RORY CELEBRATES ALONGSIDE EDEN DISTRICT COUNCIL IN NATIONAL AWARD FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING

Rory Stewart MP has congratulated Eden District Council (EDC) after their incredible success at last night’s national award for Neighbourhood Planning run by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Following a national first in early 2013, which saw Upper Eden communities vote overwhelmingly in favour of their own Neighbourhood Plan, Rory Stewart and EDC have continued to promote the uptake of the Neighbourhood Plan model to every parish in Eden and Penrith and The Border. Strong advocates of localism, both also successfully campaigned for greater funding and support from Government to allow neighbourhood planning to be rolled out to hundreds of communities across the UK more widely. Leader of the Council, Gordon Nicolson – who has already received national recognition for his contribution to Neighbourhood Planning – was on hand to collect the award from DCLG minister, Brandon Lewis.

Rory Stewart said:

“It is fantastic to see Eden District Council and Gordon Nicolson receive national recognition for the time and energy they have invested into making Eden one of the most dynamic and engaged areas of the UK when it comes to local planning. Local communities should be able to determine their own planning priorities, be it anything from an emphasis on more affordable housing, supporting local farmers and small businesses, or preserving the beauty of the local area they love. I know Gordon and his team have worked incredibly hard to support Eden communities recognise the benefits of this model, and it is yet another example of Cumbria leading the way in localism. It’s a very well-earned and well-deserved award.”