Does the council include a policy in the Local Plan to create 15/20 minute neighbourhoods?

Criteria

Points awarded if the Local Plan includes a policy to create 15/20 minute neighbourhoods. To meet the criteria the policy would have to include a definition of what a 15/20 minute community is, including:
- What key services would be required within 15/20 minutes of new homes.
- How it will be measured, for example 15 minutes by bike, walking, bus. As the crow flies distances will not meet the criteria.

If an authority has defined a specific zone where 15/20 minute neighbourhood policy principles would apply, like the main town in a rural area, then this would get the mark.

Clarifications

Synonyms for 15/20 minute neighbourhoods include: Healthy Streets Approach, Complete Neighbourhoods, Complete Communities.

We will also accept a policy to create the 30 minute community that has been adapted for rural areas. The definitions of key services and how will it be measured will need to be included for a policy on 30 minute communities to be accepted for the mark.

This policy must be found in the Local Plan, Corporate Plan or an Area Action Plan.

When marking the Planning section we will assess a Regulation 19 draft local plan or the latest adopted Local Plan or Supplementary Planning Document from the council.

Points distribution Northern Irish councils

0 points

11 Northern Irish councils

in 2023

1 point

0 Northern Irish councils

in 2023

Note: “in 2023” counts show how the councils listed below were marked on this question in 2023. This list of councils may be slightly different to the list of councils originally assessed on this question in 2023, due to the creation and abolition of councils between Scorecard years.

Rising and falling Northern Irish councils

councils scored higher in 2025

Show councils

councils scored lower in 2025