Clifton Hampden Neighbourhood Development Order

Neighbourhood Development Orders (NDOs) allow local communities to grant planning permission for specified types of development without the need for a standard planning application.

The Burcot and Clifton Hampden NDO was submitted by Clifton Hampden Parish Council in December 2022. It proposed a new GP surgery, 17 homes (including four affordable homes), an extended village hall, additional parking, and a new burial ground across two sites near the village centre.

Public consultation generated significant feedback, with strong support for the GP surgery but also concerns, particularly regarding development in the Green Belt. Following this, the council appointed an independent examiner with the parish council’s agreement. However, changes to the parish council after the May 2023 elections led to a pause in the examination before it resumed in July 2023.

The examiner’s report, published in January 2025, identified fundamental disagreements between key parties and concluded that there was insufficient clarity to determine whether the order met the necessary basic conditions—particularly regarding inappropriate development in the Green Belt. As a result, the examiner recommended that the council refuse the order.

What’s happening now?

On 13 February 2025, the council considered the examiner’s findings and, given the lack of clarity regarding the specifics of the Order and the absence of local agreement on the package of measures it includes, determined that it could not be satisfied that the Order met the required basic conditions. Consequently, the council resolved to refuse the proposal.