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Colne Town Council’s Neighbourhood Plan, which has been in preparation for over six years, received 92.4% of the vote in the town-wide referendum and will be “made” at Pendle Full Council in September.

This means it will be used in all the planning decisions in the town by the Local Planning Authority, Pendle Borough Council.

Chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Advisory Committee, Coun. Sarah Cockburn-Price, said: “I am over the moon at such a resounding result in favour of our Plan! There were times when I thought it would never be “made” but finally, we are over the finish line, with just the formal ratification to go.

“I would like to thank all those who voted, all those who have served on the Working Group and Advisory Committee, the professional staff, Gina Langley, our Town Council Clerk, and Michael Wellock, our planning consultant.

Overview of Colne Town Centre. Photo: Kelvin Stuttard

“This is one of the biggest Neighbourhood Plans in the country and the biggest in the North, I am told, and will serve to protect and enhance ‘Bonnie Colne’ in the years to come.”

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The Colne Neighbourhood Plan implements a Design Code, the first in the Borough, which should hold all new development to a high standard in Colne. If also designates 20 Local Green Spaces, protects community assets and 93 Non-Designated Heritage Assets and Character Areas.

It designates sites for housing within the Settlement Boundary and has strict policies for development in rural areas, while also protecting significant views in and out of the town. There are aspirational transport policies and Town Centre policies. Green policies run through the whole Plan.

Colne Town Council chairman, Coun. Mary Thomas said: “We have facilitated and supported the Neighbourhood Plan for years now, knowing that this was such an important project for our town. All our Councillors are delighted we were able to complete this complex Plan, which has 19 pieces of evidence base underpinning it.

“Financially, this was made possible owing to support from Locality, the national membership network and charity providing specialist advice, peer-learning, resources and campaigns to help communities like ours thrive. Coun. Sarah Cockburn-Price has become Locality’s regional Neighbourhood Planning Champion, giving us access to planning best practice.”

Resounding support for Colne's Neighbourhood Plan referendum