Isle of Dogs neighbourhood planning referendum
Following an independent examination process, and in line with the Town and Country Planning Act, the Mayor agreed on 12 May 2020 to hold a referendum asking the people if they wanted the Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Plan to be used in deciding planning applications in that area.
The Referendum will ask:
Do you want the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to use the neighbourhood plan for the Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Planning Area to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?
Why is this referendum being held?
Neighbourhood planning enables interested local communities to help directly shape and promote development in their area.
It is a community-led process, organised by groups known as neighbourhood forums, which are open to all residents and workers in the area they represent.
After a neighbourhood plan is developed, it must undergo a referendum to ensure it represents the wishes of the people that will be affected by it.
If passed at a referendum, neighbourhood plans become a statutory part of the local development plan and have full weight in relevant planning decisions.
The Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Forum was designated by the council in April 2016 and produced the Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Plan.
In line with national planning legislation, two rounds of public consultation were held before it was submitted for independent examination.
The examiner of the plan suggested some changes that needed to be made to bring it into line with national planning policy and recommended it should go to a referendum with those changes made.
The Mayor accepted that recommendation.
What options will be available at the referendum?
The electorate within the Neighbourhood Plan area will be asked whether they want the Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Plan to be used to help decide planning applications.
Which area of the borough is involved in the vote?
Those local government electors who reside within the area as set out in the Neighbourhood Plan will be permitted to vote in the referendum. The defined area can be seen on this map.
What happens if the referendum is passed?
If the referendum is passed, the council is required to formally make the neighbourhood plan. This will be done at the next possible Full Council meeting. The result of the referendum is binding.
What happens if the referendum is not passed?
If the referendum is not passed, the neighbourhood plan will be withdrawn and have no further weight in the planning process.
The referendum details
The poll for the referendum will be held on Thursday 6 May 2021 between the hours of 7am and 10pm.
Anyone who lives within the boundaries of the Neighbourhood Planning Area and who is eligible to vote in local elections (such as the Greater London Authority elections taking place at the same time) will be entitled to vote in the referendum.
The question to be asked at the poll will be
Do you want the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to use the neighbourhood plan for the Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Planning Area to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?
The referendum poll will be conducted in accordance with the rules for local authority referenda and are similar to the rules used for local elections.
The poll will take place at the same time as the Greater London Authority elections and a referendum to be held across the whole borough on the council’s governance model.
Details of the governance model referendum can be found on the governance referendum page.
The referendum expenses limit for campaign organisers promoting a particular outcome is the aggregate of £2,362 plus the amount found by multiplying by 5.9 pence the number of entries in the relevant local government electoral register in effect on the day on which the referendum period begins.
Due to restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, a copy of the proposals may be inspected on the Isle of Dogs page.
If the restrictions ease, a hard copy may be made available at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, E14 2BG, during normal office working hours of 9am to 6pm.