This retrospective article would examine the democratic foundations of neighbourhood planning in Hampstead, focusing on the June 2018 referendum that saw 91.5% of votes cast in favour of adopting the original Neighbourhood Plan, with a 20.5% turnout. The piece would explain the legal requirements of the Localism Act 2011, which mandates that neighbourhood plans must be approved by referendum before adoption, giving communities direct democratic control over planning policy. It would explore what the high approval rate signifies about community consensus on planning matters, while also examining what the 20.5% turnout reveals about public engagement.