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Last revised November 14, 2021

Meetings with planning officers.

NPN groups have regular meetings every 3 months with the local planning authority officers in the policy and the development management (planning applications and enforcement) teams.

These meetings are open to all NPN group members.

Topics which will be relevant for all areas and groups are suggested by BCC or NPN members.

Individual planning cases are not discussed at these meetings.

More information on the Quarterly meetings.


Training meetings on

  • drawing up Neighbourhood Development Plans and
  • responding to Pre Application Community Involvement approaches from developers

are organised through the Network. Groups should ensure that they are up to date with these processes by sending representatives to these meetings.

To find out about training opportunities sign up to receive the newsletter here or contact the network administrator.

A group that wants to become a Neighbourhood Planning Forum should contact the Network Administrator and Bristol City Council Neighbourhood Planning officer to get details of the next training events


 Other events

NPN groups are also invited to events organised by other groups in the Network or other organisations including Bristol City Council to help shape proposals for planning, urban design and transport schemes, University of the West of England training events, Bristol Civic Society meetings, Architecture Centre events etc

NPN groups are encouraged to invite other groups in the Network to any meetings that they organise to discuss issues or developments of wider interest or impact.


 Development Forums

NPN groups are invited to attend Development Forums on particular planning applications, arranged by Bristol City Council Development Management team, to discuss larger development cases before a planning application is submitted. The developers are asked to present the proposed scheme to councillors and the local community groups at City Hall and then councillors and community group representatives are encouraged to ask questions.

This is an important opportunity for communities to ensure that issues that concern them are raised and that developers’ responses are heard, not just by the group members but also by planning committee members and planning officers.


Bristol planning policy

NPN groups are invited by Bristol City Council, the Local Planning Authority, to consultation meetings about planning policy.