There is no set process for neighborhood planning. In some cases, such as statutory neighbourhood planning in England, regulations establish formal steps in the process such as being designated by the
Local Planning Authority. The following six steps are typical of a general neighborhood planning process: • Defining the neighborhood boundaries • Public engagement and consultation • Evidence collection • Plan-writing • Implementation • Evaluation and monitoring The first step in planning for a neighborhood is to define the boundaries of the neighborhood. Neighborhoods can be difficult to define geographically, although neighborhood planning can work with all scales of area, from urban neighborhoods to rural areas. The process of defining boundaries can sometimes be problematic, for example if some areas do not want certain streets or houses to be included within a neighborhood boundary. More than one neighborhood district may attempt to claim a certain street or group of homes. Less problematic neighborhood boundary definitions are sometimes based on existing natural boundaries such as rivers, existing administrative boundaries, or based on
census information. After the boundaries of the plan are established, those leading the plan should decide how to get the wider neighborhood involved with the planning process. To define the goals of the plan,
public participation of local residents and stakeholders is often considered central. A
city official may do all of the planning with minimal contact or input from the residents or the plan may be undertaken by a self-selected group of residents who do not seek or else ignore input from others in the neighborhood. However it is typically assumed that the involvement of as many residents as possible is desirable, or the outcome may lack critical information and perspectives and thus not fully represent the desires of the neighborhood residents. Many strategies may be used to involve neighborhood residents in the planning process and outreach methods may be used to generate interest. Planners can involve neighbors by collecting data and information about the area and how the residents use it. Community development practitioners are often asked to assist with consultation as they can act as an independent facilitator to engagement. Planners can then combine the information they have gathered from residents with other evidence at their disposal. This might include retail or employment surveys, demographic data or housing needs assessments. Once data from community consultation and evidence collection have been collated, a neighbourhood plan can be drafted. Successful neighbourhood plans typically seek to deliver community wishes in ways that are supported by the underpinning evidence. This may be achieved by generating policy alternatives before consulting again with the wider community to decide among them. The next step is to figure out how to implement the plan the committee has created. This requires the planning committee to decide what actions need to take place to effectively implement the plan. The committee must decide what resources are available, and how to create more available resources. The final step of neighborhood planning is generally considered to be evaluating and monitoring. Planning and sustaining a functional neighborhood involves iterations of work and decision-making, and so plans may also be revised or replaced by a new plan. == Neighbourhood planning in England ==