The compilation of a Village Plan is not compulsory and is a lot of hard work, so why do it?
Well, the 4000 plus communities up and down the country who have already put their Village Plans in place have reported the following key benefits:

• A Village Plan sets out a vision of what is important, how new development can be best fitted in, the design and quality standards it should meet, how to preserve valued local features and to map out the facilities which the community needs to safeguard for the future;
• A Village Plan gives Strategic bodies, Councils, Agencies and the Health Service a clear picture of what the community wants and needs, thereby enabling them to provide that community with the right resources focussed on the right priorities at the right time;
• A Village Plan helps access funding opportunities for the community for example:
  • Comberton, who completed their plan in 2003, have drawn down almost £1m of funding for various community projects identified within their plan;
  • Little Hadham in Hertfordshire, who completed their plan in 2006, identified the need for a new children’s play area. A £45k award was received following an application supported by the Village Plan and the new play area opened mid 2007
• The process of putting together a Village Plan gets different sections of the community talking, enhancing the sense of community spirit and unearthing unexpected opportunities for cooperation.