Purpose

To formally designate the Empingham
Neighbourhood Area.

Decision

A valid application for designation of a
neighbourhood area was received from Empingham Paish Council on 1st
December 2025.

The Parish Council have proposed that the Neighbourhood Area is
identical to the Empingham Parish boundary. The Parish Council
consider this to be the appropriate area to be designated as it is
the area administered by Empingham Parish Council.

On the basis that the application was made by the Parish Council,
as the relevant body, and is for the whole Parish it satisfies the
provisions of Regulation 5A of the Neighbourhood Planning (General)
Regulations 2012 (as amended). There is, therefore, no requirement
to advertise or consult on the application and the Council is under
an obligation to designate the neighbourhood area: it has no
discretion to decline to do so.

Under Section 61H of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as
amended) the Council is required to consider whether to designate
the area concerned a ‘business area’. A proposed
neighbourhood area should be designated as a business are if the
local authority considers that the area is wholly of predominately
business in nature. It is considered that the proposed
neighbourhood area is primarily residential and not suitable for
this designation.

Alternative options considered

No other options have been considered as an
application to designate a neighbourhood area is governed by a
statutory process.