Overwhelming majority votes for Hampstead Neighbourhood Plan at referendum
Hampstead High Street. Picture: Ken Mears - Credit: Archant
Hampstead voted overwhelmingly to adopts its neighbourbood plan in a referendum yesterday.
The polling station for the referendum outside Burgh House on Thursday June 21 - Credit: Harry Taylor
It will cover the historic area’s heritage and environment, as well as traffic, transport, the economy, housing and community.
Planning applications falling inside the boundaries will now have to take this into account, alongside the new Camden Plan.
It won a landslide of 91.5 per cent of votes, during a busier than expected day at the polling station at Burgh House.
In total 1622 people voted for the plan, 20.5pc of voters.
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Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum has been working on the plans for the last five years, and was adopted at its last AGM.
The forum was set up in 2011 to draw up the plan under the Localism Act.
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Even though the referendum has been passed, the group will stay together to monitor it how the plan’s policies are carried out.
Chairwoman of the forum, Janine Griffis said: “We are delighted with the results of yesterday’s referendum. It was the best turnout so far for any neighbourhood plan referendum in Camden and I think the level of support reflects how much local people care about Hampstead and want to make sure that it remains a great place to live and work.
“Our volunteers and supporters worked tirelessly over the past few weeks to get out the word and explain why approving the Plan is such an important step for Hampstead.
“The final step will be for Camden Council to formally adopt the Plan and this should take place in a few months or so. Even now, the Plan carries weight and will be taken into account in planning decisions.”
Councillor Oliver Cooper, who represents Hampstead Town and called for the electorate to back the plan in the weeks before the vote tweeted afterwards: “As Hampstead’s councillors, we’re hugely grateful to everyone that’s been involved in producing this Plan. Five years of consulting the community, drafting the documents, assembling the evidence, and passing the examination has been a labour of love for the Hampstead Forum, and this result is their reward.”
