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West Finchley Neighbourhood Planning Referendum

Neighbourhood Planning Referendum was held on Thursday 8 July 2021 in the West Finchley area to decide on the adoption of the West Finchley Neighbourhood Plan

Which area of the borough was involved in the vote?

Those local government electors who reside within the area as set out in the Neighbourhood Plan were permitted to vote in the referendum. 

The Referendum asked:

Do you want the London Borough of Barnet to use the Neighbourhood Plan for West Finchley to help decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?

Referendum result:

Results for the West Finchley Neighbourhood Planning Referendum following the counting of the votes are as follows:

Do you want the London Borough of Barnet to use the Neighbourhood Plan for West Finchley to help decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?

Yes 329
No 67

The turnout was 28.6%

Notices

Why was this referendum held?

Neighbourhood planning enables interested local communities to help directly shape and promote development in their area. It is a community-led process, organised by groups known as neighbourhood forums, which are open to all residents and workers in the area they represent. 

After a neighbourhood plan is developed, it must undergo a referendum to ensure it represents the wishes of the people that will be affected by it. If passed at a referendum, neighbourhood plans become a statutory part of the local development plan and have full weight in relevant planning decisions.

The West Finchley Neighbourhood Area and Forum was re-designated by the council in October 2020 and produced the West Finchley Neighbourhood Plan.

In line with national planning legislation, two rounds of public consultation were held before it was submitted for independent examination.

The referendum details

The referendum poll was conducted in accordance with the rules for local authority referenda and are similar to the rules used for local elections. 

The referendum expenses limit for campaign organisers promoting a particular outcome is the aggregate of £2,362 plus the amount found by multiplying by 0.059 pence the number of entries in the relevant local government electoral register in effect on the day on which the referendum period begins.