Apply to be a designated Neighbourhood Forum
The designation process follows five steps:
- Getting started - Start by asking yourself if a Neighbourhood Plan is needed in your area and if there is there support from the local community. You can also start early discussions with us about the process.
- Apply for designation - Form a steering group of at least 21 people who live, work, or are elected members of the area and submit an application to us.
- Public consultation - We will verify the validity of your application at this stage. The application is published online and in other appropriate ways for a public consultation lasting six weeks.
- Designation of the neighbourhood forum - A Cabinet Member Report is published and formal decision to approve the designation is taken. The decision comes into force a week after, if no objections are made.
- Begin planning activities - Once approved, the forum designation lasts for five years. The forum is now considered a statutory consultee for planning applications within the Neighbourhood Area and can create a Neighbourhood Plan.
To designate a Neighbourhood Forum, please complete the following form:
See further guidance for more information on the application requirements on the following pages.
Applications should be sent to:
- Policy and Strategy, Westminster City Council, 17th Floor, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QP
- Or via emailed to neighbourhoodplanning@westminster.gov.uk
What happens next
Once received, we'll publish the application online and in other appropriate ways to give people who live, work and carry out business in the application area at least six weeks to comment. After this consultation period, we will consider the application (including representations received during the consultation) before formally designating the forum. The council must take a decision on an application to designate a neighbourhood forum within 13 weeks.
Factors affecting decision:
- the membership consists of at least 21 individuals who either live or work in the neighbourhood area or are elected members of the relevant local council.
- how widely the membership is drawn (including different places and different sections of the community).
- how the purpose of the group generally reflects the character of the area.
Once a Neighbourhood Forum is designated a designation lasts for 5 years. No other organisation or body may be designated for that neighbourhood area until that designation expires or is withdrawn.
For further guidance on the application requirements, see Further guidance on Neighbourhood Forum designation applications
