On Thursday 3 December, voters will decide whether a plan drawn up by local people should help shape future development on Plymouth Hoe.
Plymouth Hoe is the jewel in Plymouth's crown. But it is more than just its dramatic views across Plymouth Sound. It's a vibrant community made up of people, with homes, businesses, a unique environment and nature.
The Hoe Neighbourhood Plan sets out what local people want council planners to consider when deciding what gets built and where. Once the plan is approved, its policies will be used to decide whether to approve future planning applications.
After years of work by volunteers, a public consultation and an independent examination, the plan is going to a referendum.
Polls will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 3 December 2026.
So what is the Hoe Neighbourhood Plan?
It’s a set of local planning policies for drawn up by the Hoe Neighbourhood Forum with input from residents, businesses and others. If voters back it, the council will use it alongside the wider Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan when deciding planning applications in the neighbourhood.
Read the referendum version of the plan
What would the plan cover?
- Heritage and design. How new buildings fit into the surrounding streets, how development affects historic buildings and important views, and how older buildings can be made more energy efficient.
- Green spaces and nature. Protection for designated local green spaces, trees, hedges and wildlife.
- Walking, transport and parking. How development can support walking, cycling and other ways of getting around, and how it should deal with parking.
- Housing. The mix of new homes, their accessibility, and the environmental standards they meet.
The plan also sets out community ambitions, including improvements to local infrastructure. Those are projects and priorities the Forum wants to pursue with partners. The planning policies are the part the council would apply when deciding applications. Policies and community aspirations in the final plan
What does a Yes or No vote mean?
Voters in the referendum will be asked:
"Do you want Plymouth City Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for the Hoe to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?"
If more people vote Yes than No, the plan will become part of the council’s development plan for the area. If No gets more votes, or the result is tied, the council will continue to decide applications under the existing planning framework. Council explanation of the ballot and result
Who can vote?
You can vote if you live within the designated Hoe Neighbourhood Area and are registered to vote in local elections at your address there. The boundary takes in parts of two polling districts in the St Peter and the Waterfront ward. If you live near the edge of the area, check your address against the council’s boundary map or call its electoral helpline on 01752 304866.
When and how can I vote?
In person. Polling stations open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 3 December. Check your poll card for your assigned station. The two venues are The Burgess Hall, Plymouth Unitarian Church, Notte Street, PL1 2HG, and Ballard House, West Hoe Road, PL1 3BJ. Take an accepted form of photo ID. Council polling station details
- Register to vote by midnight at the end of Tuesday 17 November. Register online
- Apply for a new postal vote by 5pm on Wednesday 18 November.
- Apply for a new proxy vote by 5pm on Wednesday 25 November if you want someone to vote on your behalf.
What is the Hoe Neighbourhood Forum?
Local residents formed the Forum in 2017 to give the neighbourhood more say in planning decisions. People who live, work or run a business in the area can join. The plan went through workshops, public consultation and independent examination before Plymouth City Council’s cabinet approved it for a referendum on 12 October. About the Forum
The Forum is campaigning for a Yes vote. Chair, Penny Tarrant, says the group wants to protect the Hoe’s natural and historic character for residents, businesses and visitors.
What if I have questions?
For questions about your address, registration or how to vote, call Plymouth City Council’s electoral helpline on 01752 304866. The council’s referendum page has the official notices, voter FAQs and boundary map. Council referendum information
For questions about what the plan proposes or how it was drawn up, contact the Hoe Neighbourhood Forum. Its website has the final plan, the evidence behind it and the independent examiner’s report. Plan and supporting evidence
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