A group of residents who care about Plymouth Hoe have been working since 2017 to create a detailed vision for how the landmark should develop over the next 10 years.
- Community-Driven Vision for Plymouth Hoe
The Hoe Neighbourhood Forum, a politically neutral community group, has been working since 2017 to create a 10-year development plan for Plymouth Hoe, empowering residents, workers, and businesses to shape the area’s future through local input. - Public Consultation and Participation
A public consultation on the draft Hoe Neighbourhood Plan is open until January 6, allowing residents to review and comment on the vision and policies. Feedback will shape the final plan, which will go to a referendum for adoption into Plymouth City Council’s planning process. - Building a Stronger Community
The Forum has not only focused on planning but also strengthened community ties through initiatives like a pandemic support group and regular communication, ensuring the Hoe remains a vibrant and inclusive place to live and work.
The Hoe Neighbourhood Forum has invited anyone who lives, works or has a business in the area to comment on the proposals. A public consultation is running until January 6 to allow local people to review and comment on the Hoe Neighbourhood Plan. When adopted in a public referendum, the plan and its policies will become part of Plymouth City Council’s planning process after the Localism Act of 2011 gave communities in the UK more power over future planning issues in their area.
The Hoe Neighbourhood Forum was set up in 2017 as a politically neutral community group to give local people area a greater say in how the area develops. It is supported by local Plymouth city councillors and is a statutory consultee for planning applications in the Hoe area. The area covered by the Forum includes the Hoe, the Citadel, West Hoe, and an area south of Notte Street.
As well as holding monthly Forum meetings to discuss local events, opportunities and concerns, a working group from the Forum drafted the Hoe Neighbourhood Plan, which sets out a vision for the future and formal development policies for the area.
During the pandemic, the Forum turned its attention to mutual support in the neighbourhood area. A dedicated phone line was set up to reach the newly formed Neighbourhood Support Group run by local volunteers, which provided safe, coordinated help to neighbours who needed a hand with errands or just a chat. Communication with residents was maintained through the distribution of 1,800 leaflets to all homes in the Hoe Neighbourhood Area, publicising the phone line and the ongoing work on the Neighbourhood Plan.
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Following initial consultations within the community in 2018, the Hoe Neighbourhood Plan working group developed a draft plan that established a vision and policies for future development on the Hoe. The plan must now go through a formal public consultation with people in the Hoe community, Plymouth City Council, Historic England, and other official consultees.
Hilary Kolinsky, who led the working group, said:
“The plan is a credit to all the local volunteers who worked tirelessly to research, draft, consult on and present it. My huge thanks and gratitude to everyone who has been involved, including our local councillors, Dave Chapman from Locality, and especially the steering group who have remained committed over many years.”
Penny Tarrant, chair of the Hoe Neighbourhood Forum, said:
“The plan sets out range of policies to ensure the community remains a vibrant place to live and work in the next ten years.
“We would love to know what local people think and find out if they share our vision. We hope to meet them at one of our consultation events and get their feedback so we can make it truly reflective of everyone who cares about our wonderful Hoe.”
There is a specific process regulated by government for reviewing and approving neighbourhood plans that must be followed. After the public consultation, the Forum must consider the comments received and the plan will be finalised and submitted to Plymouth City Council. It will then be reviewed for regulatory compliance by an independent examiner.
The final stage will be a referendum conducted by Plymouth City Council’s election unit. If the referendum passes, the Hoe Neighbourhood Plan will then be adopted by Plymouth City Council and used in evaluating planning applications in the Hoe area, alongside the council’s local development plan, which is currently the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan.
People living or working in the Hoe Neighbourhood Area, can review and comment on the draft Hoe Neighbourhood Plan by visiting the Hoe Forum website at www.hoeforum.org.uk. There will also be hard copies available for review in Plymouth’s Central Library on Armada Way, the West Hoe Pub (in West Hoe) and the Gipsy Moth pub (on Citadel Road).
There will also be drop-in events around the Hoe area where people can ask questions and provide comments in person – details of when and where are advertised on flyers and posters being distributed throughout the area.
Plympton St. Mary was the first area in Plymouth the get their neighbourhood plan formally adopted. Two other communities, Devonport and Barne Barton, are also in the process of developing neighbourhood plans.
To learn more about neighbourhood planning go to www.hoeforum.org.uk/aboutNP for a list of resources.
For further information, contact: Penny Tarrant penbilly@gmail.com phone: 07967 141863.
