The Pre-submission version of our Draft Old Oak Neighbourhood Plan can read or downloaded below. This replaces the earlier ‘soft launch’ version published here in April.
The Forum’s public consultation on this pre-submission draft runs from July 8th until September 8th 2026, extending the minimum 6 week statutory consultation period during the holiday season.
Coemments and suggestions on this draft version are very welcome. Please send by email to oonforum@gmail com. The Forum will prepare a Consultation Statement listing all comments received and how they will be addressed in Submission version of the Draft Plan.
The next version, to be formally submitted to OPDC as the local planning authority for the neighbourhood area, will be accompanied by the Consultation Statement and a Basic Conditions Statement. This latter document will explain how the Draft Plan meets all the statutory requirements for any neighbourhood plan as set down in the 2011 Localism Act (as amended) and Regulations. An initial version of this Statement is included as Annexe A in this pre-submission version.
OPDC will then arrange for examination of the Draft Plan by a suitably qualified independent Examiner (a similar role to that of a Planning Inspector for a local plan). Choice of the Examiner will need to be agreed between the neighbourhood forum and the OPDC.
A July 6th post on this website gives more background on discussions between OPDC and the Forum on the process of preparation and finalisation of this Draft Plan.
Subject to endorsement of the Draft Plan by the Examiner, with any modifications made, OPDC will then hold a local referendum on the final version. All registered voters within the neighbourhood boundary will be entitled to vote. A majority vote in favour of the Draft Plan should then lead to it being ‘made’ (adopted) by OPDC as part of the development plan for the OPDC area.
The development plan is made up of the 2021 London Plan, the 2022 OPDC Local Plan and any adopted neighbourhood plan. The Harlesden Neighbourhood Plan is already in force for a small part of the OPDC area, along with a larger part of LB Brent.
Decisions on all planning applications must be made in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. It will remain OPDC as planning authority which decides applications or delegates them to one of the three Boroughs. Decisions will need to take into account neighbourhood plan policies.
The Draft Neighbourhood Plan allocates the sites below (blue boundaries) and sets policies for each on net residential density and building height. The areas with green boundaries are proposed for designation as Local Green Space. This provides strong protection against develoment (similar to Green Belt status).
How to join the Old Oak Neighbourhood Forum
Please get in touch at oonforum@gmail.com if you would like to know more about the Neighbourhood Plan, or have queries about any of the detailed policies and site allocations that have been included in this first draft.
Membership of the Old Oak Neighbourhood Forum is open to anyone who lives or works in the designated neighbourhood area. If you live or work in the wider area you are also very welcome to join and to log in to our monthly Zoom meetings as an ‘associate member’. At the stage of a referendum on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan, it will only be those on the electoral register within the designated neighbourhood area who will have the opportunity to vote.