Final week for feedback on the West Suffolk Local Plan

04 Mar 2024

There’s now just over one week left for people to view and give their feedback on the draft West Suffolk Local Plan.

Once it is adopted, the local plan 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. 

A third and final consultation to test and check the plan ahead of it being submitted to the Secretary of State, will close next Tuesday 12 March at 5pm. 

The latest draft – the submission draft 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 is better for the environment and people’s energy bills. This would be through measures including solar panels on roofs wherever practically possible.

It 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.

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 a windfall allowance of 1,200 homes. By identifying more than the minimum number needed, the local plan allows flexibility during the plan period.

The plan 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.

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: “Our strategic priorities as a council are for affordable, available and decent homes, thriving communities, sustainable growth and environmental resilience. The local plan is a key part in how we deliver some of these things between now and 2040.

“It’s a plan to deliver good quality housing for our growing communities, making sure that there are homes available so that as people’s children and grandchildren grow, they can continue to live in West Suffolk.

“It’s a plan to boost the delivery of affordable homes which are greatly needed. It’s a plan for more environmentally sustainable housing, helping residents heat their homes for less. It’s a plan for homes that support people’s health and wellbeing including adapting to their changing needs including as they get older. 

“And it’s a plan to support the future growth of our local economy with land to expand for existing businesses retaining and creating jobs in the area, as well as supporting the growth of new businesses, and attracting others to West Suffolk.”

Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council said: “We now have just a week left on this our third and final consultation. This marks the last stage in the preparation of the local plan before it is submitted to the Secretary of State to hold an examination in public.
“A huge thank you to all who have viewed the plan and given their feedback. If you haven’t already, please visit our virtual village hall and view the plan. It’s your future, your West Suffolk.”

The submission draft consultation will run until 5pm on 12 March. People can view the latest draft of the plan and give their feedback by visiting the council’s virtual village hall exhibition.

If residents have a query, they can email planning.policy@westsuffolk.gov.uk or phone 01284 757368.

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