Background
Whilst the formal objectives of the Forum are quite wide, the principal reasons for its creation
were to
(i) Create an approved Neighbourhood Plan for its designated area (broadly Edenfield)
and
(ii) Oppose the Local Plan proposal to build 100s of houses on Green Belt land in Edenfield.
The Neighbourhood Plan has now been created and came fully in force in April 2025. In theory
planning applicants should now follow it and RBC should have regard to it when considering
planning applications. Rossendale Council have approved the Local Plan, the Edenfield H66
Masterplan and planning applications relative to about 70% of the H66 housing allocation with
the likelihood that the remaining 30% will follow suit in due course.
Overall, much of the original purpose of the Forum has ended. However, the Forum retains its
“designated status”* which means that it is entitled to update the Neighbourhood Plan. This is
likely to be appropriate in the period 2027 to 2029 when the Rossendale Council Local Plan is
to be reviewed/updated taking into account new government guidelines, in particular, the need
for additional sites to be identified for house building. The Forum, with its “designated status”,
will be part of this process which may help to resist or, at least, have a say in whether and where
further house building will be permitted in Edenfield.
Current Dilemma
Some of the Management Committee have served for many years and are looking to reduce
their involvement with the Forum. Despite efforts, it has not been possible to attract new
Management Committee members. As a result, the burden of running the Forum is likely to fall
upon a lesser number of individuals.
Possible Solutions
1) A number (ideally at least three) of individuals join the Management Committee OR
2) The Forum is dissolved such that its “designated status” is foregone but all
administrative burdens are removed. The Edenfield Village Residents Association
(EVRA) has indicated that it could take over monitoring compliance with the current
Neighbourhood Plan, commenting on Planning Applications and liaising with the
Council/Developers in respect of the developments currently in progress. Without
“designated status” EVRA would not be entitled to revise the Neighbourhood Plan, and
the benefit of the current Neighbourhood Plan would diminish as time passes OR
3) EVRA could take over the monitoring, commenting and liaising functions as per 2 above
and the Forum could continue for a short period in a semi dormant state with a “skeleton”
Management Committee. In due course it could be re energised, but this would need new
individuals to come forward to join the Management Committee. In the absence of new
individuals coming forward it is unlikely that the Forum would have the resources to deal
with revising the Neighbourhood Plan.
Summary
The Forum has reached the end its original brief and is now at a crossroads. Should it disband
or are there Edenfield residents who can become involved in the next stage?
