The effect of the Decision Statement is to confirm that the Council considers the Plan (subject to modification) meets the Basic Conditions and can proceed to referendum.
It also has the effect of giving the Neighbourhood Plan (as modified) “significant weight” in the determination of planning applications, in accordance with Para 107, Ref ID: 41-107-20200925 of Planning Practice Guidance:
Decision-making: Where the local planning authority has issued a decision statement (as set out under Regulation 18 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012) detailing its intention to send a neighbourhood plan to referendum, that plan can be given significant weight in decision-making, so far as the plan is material to the application.
