Bow residents have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new neighbourhood plan, which will influence future planning in the area and should ensure new developments benefit the community.

The Roman Road Bow neighbourhood plan referendum took place on October 13 and means the council will now be legally obligated to refer to this document whenever new planning applications for the area occur.

The verdict of the referendum was announced late Thursday night after voting ended at 10pm. The results of the referendum show that there were 1743 votes in favour and 736 against.

The plan outlines six key policies that the council will be expected to consider in future planning applications, guiding new developments. These policies are based upon what the community felt were crucial aspects of their local area, such as open spaces, housing and the local economy.

The Neighbourhood Planning Area’s (NPA) boundaries cover almost the entirety of East and West Bow, excluding Victoria Park and Fish Island.

The key policies are: a thriving high street and local economy, green streets that encourage walking and cycling, beautiful public spaces, new life for our local heritage, high quality affordable housing and a resilient and well-networked community infrastructure.

At the declaration of the referendum’s verdict, Chief Executive for Tower Hamlets Council Will Tuckley said: “I would like to thank those who voted in the referendum and are playing an active role in local democracy.”

It has taken over six years for the plan to get to a referendum, after it was started in 2016 by local residents who formed the Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum.

The plan was eventually authorised to go to a referendum in August 2022.

In the past, decisions surrounding planning and development have been made primarily by local planning authorities, whereas now the community will effectively have a say in any relevant planning applications in the future, as laid out in the plan’s policies.

Speaking to Eastlondonlines, Neighbourhood Forum Member Mike Mitchell said: “The Neighbourhood Plan provides an opportunity for residents of Bow to have their voices heard and make a difference in the way planning applications are considered.”

The inspiration to create the plan came about when Roman Road Bow residents became aware of the Localism Act 2011. The act intended to give local communities greater say over developments in the areas they live in and to transfer power from central government to local authorities and communities in planning applications and development.

“The process of developing an initiative such as this is very long and bureaucratic, involving lots of different stages,” said Mitchell.

Mitchell said the forum began with an initial meeting in 2016, which was well attended and led to the forming of a steering group which evolved into the present Forum committee.

“Neighbourhood plans involve a very substantial commitment of time and energy and of perseverance,” he added.

During the six years of drafting the plan, residents, businesses and community groups have all helped shape the final draft of the Neighbourhood Plan that was voted into action last week.

There were various stages that were necessary before a referendum could take place, such as establishing the NPA’s boundaries, consulting the community, securing approval from the council and determining the core aims of the plan itself. 

“I would love to see the historic Roman Road street market and other local businesses thriving in a sustainable way, bringing greater prosperity to local people and improving the physical environment,” Mitchell said.

From the next full council meeting, the Tower Hamlets Council will have to consider the plan’s policies against any relevant planning applications.