Please see below information from West Suffolk Council about the final consultation on the West Suffolk Local Plan
West Suffolk have advised that a final consultation opened on 30th January 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.
There are a number of Drop-in events being put on by West Suffolk, where members of the planning team will be available to answer questions. Click on this link to check the dates and venues.
The parish council will be considering the draft Local Plan and its response at its next scheduled meeting on Thursday 29th February (7:30pm at Wickhambrook Memorial Social Centre), but don’t forget that you can also respond directly to West Suffolk. You can view the plan and give feedback by going to https://westsuffolk.inconsult.uk/WSLPdraftsubmission/consultationHome
View the Local Plan Affects you Poster below: