The grand sweep of development in England – where houses are built, offices and factories start up, roads and railways run – is determined by government’s “National Planning Policy Framework” (NPPF) and by the broad strategic plans (known as “Core Strategies”) drawn up by local planning authorities like Kettering Borough Council.

But to ensure that ​decisions on individual planning applications contribute to the broad strategy, much more detailed policies are needed. So the planning authorities make further plans (known as “site specific plans”) controlling what may happen – or not -on individual parcels of land.

In the Localism Act 2011, government allowed people in local communities to make their own decisions about the site specific plans for their own area, instead of the planning authorities. To do so, they have to write a “Neighbourhood Development Plan” (Neighbourhood Plan or NP for short) according to certain rules.

Once adopted, the policies set out in the NP have legal status, sitting alongside the strategic development plans for the area, and replacing the local plan that would otherwise apply.  It is important to note, though, that planning decisions are made by weighing up different considerations, often conflicting, of which NP policies are only part. There is no absolute guarantee that the NP policies will be followed in full. But they are the best means available to communities to influence the shape of development in their area,

At the 2020 Annual Meeting of the Parish, the residents of Braybrooke indicated their wish to create a Neighbourhood Plan. The work was taken forward by the Parish Council and a Steering Group was set up to advise the Council and steer the detailed work.
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​This page records the progress of the work, and the factual context.  A “Special Edition” of The Braybrooke Gossip was circulated on 10 April to illustrate the scope of the considerations.  It may be seen here.