Final consultation opens on the West Suffolk Local Plan

30 Jan 2024

A final consultation opens today on the West Suffolk Local Plan, which will guide how and where new homes are built and allocate land for employment growth to the year 2040.

Hundreds of comments, evidence and feedback have already shaped the draft plan following the Issues and Options consultation in 2020 and a Preferred Options consultation in 2022. 

Now a third consultation has begun to test and check the plan ahead of it being submitted to the Secretary of State. The government will then appoint a planning inspector to hold an examination in public. 

The latest draft seeks to ensure the delivery of at least 13,702 new homes to meet housing needs across the district. It allocates sites for 5,211 new homes alongside 9,075 homes that already have planning permission. It also allows for windfall allowance of 1,200 homes. By identifying more than the minimum number needed, the local plan allows flexibility during the plan period.

It also makes provision for 86 hectares of employment growth enabling the council to help support the expansion of existing local companies, the creation of new businesses, and to attract new businesses to the area, all to the benefit of the local West Suffolk economy.

In addition to allocating sites, the local plan contains policies to boost the delivery of affordable housing in the district, with a requirement for 40 per cent of homes on greenfield sites to be for affordable housing.

It seeks to make new homes more sustainable which better for the environment and people’s energy bills. This would be through measures including solar panels on roofs wherever practically possible.

The latest draft of the local plan also recognises the need to design places to encourage health and wellbeing and for more homes to be adaptable to people’s changing needs, particularly as people get older. That then means people may be able to carry on enjoying their home for longer, preventing or delaying them having to go into care. Space standards are also introduced for rooms and gardens for all new houses as well as access to additional open space for people living in flats.

When it is eventually adopted, the local plan will be used to decide planning applications. With or without a local plan, development will still happen, but by allocating the land for much needed housing and employment, the local plan also protects other areas such as the countryside from harmful, speculative development, and it ensures that residents and elected councillors, continue to have a public voice and a say on planning applications submitted to the council.

By having a local plan, the council will also be able to ensure funding is secured to pay for infrastructure such as toward education provision, highways, footpaths and cycleways.

Cllr Jim Thorndyke, Cabinet Member for Planning at West Suffolk Council, said: “Through this local plan we are looking to ensure the supply of good quality housing for our growing communities here in West Suffolk. We are making sure that as people’s children and grandchildren grow, there are the homes available that allow them to continue to live in West Suffolk. 

“We know more affordable homes are greatly needed in this area. Through this local plan we are looking to increase the delivery of affordable housing as well as homes that are more environmentally sustainable and that can cater and adapt to people’s changing health needs.

“We are also looking to support the future success of our local economy by making sure that there is land set aside for employment growth. That will ensure existing business can expand here in West Suffolk and retain jobs in our area. It will also help us in encouraging and supporting the growth of new businesses, as well as attracting others to our area.”

Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “This is our third and final consultation in the preparation of this local plan. I’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to get involved in this so far and I would encourage people to visit our virtual village hall and view the plan for themselves.”

The submission draft consultation will run to 12 March. People can view the latest draft of the plan and give their feedback by visiting the council’s virtual village hall exhibition.

The council will also have four drop-in events where people can find out more about the latest draft of the plan and how they can give their feedback. These take place between 10am and 3pm at the following:

• Friday 2 February, The Studio, Haverhill Arts Centre, High Street, Haverhill.
• Wednesday 7 February, upper floor lounge at The Apex, Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds.
• Saturday 10 February, conference room at Mildenhall Hub, Sheldrick Way, Mildenhall.
• Saturday 17 February, main hall at King Edward VII Memorial Hall, High Street, Newmarket.

If residents cannot make these events and have a query, they can email planning.policy@westsuffolk.gov.uk or phone 01284 757368.

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