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Babergh is concerned about, and wishes to correct, a misconception that seems to be in evidence from some residents in East Bergholt who may be being led to a belief that there are proposals to build up to 600 new houses in the village. This is not the case at all and probably reflects a misunderstanding as to the status and role of a background document called the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA).
The SHLAA is a desktop exercise required by the Government to show that Babergh has a thorough awareness of all the relevant parcels of land in the district that could theoretically be used for housing purposes - subject to whether the Core Strategy allows for such development and whether any such sites should be included in an actual planning document - or not. It does not carry weight in determining future planning issues. As such it is one of many theoretical research documents that are required to support Babergh’s emerging Core Strategy – which sets out in general terms the principles for any future growth in Babergh between now and 2031.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Core Strategy looks to establish the general pattern for future development throughout the district and will not go into any site-specific details.
Babergh’s Core Strategy is currently in a draft stage and is going to be debated by Babergh councillors on the Strategy Committee on May 13 and by all councillors at full Council on 1 June. Subject to Council’s final approval this draft document will then go out for consultation for an eight week period from June / July onwards. The current suggestions in the draft Babergh Core Strategy Document do not propose any development on land identified in the SHLAA (or by any other source) whatsoever.
For more information about the draft Core Strategy, including the timetable over which it will be available for consultation and scrutiny, please go to: www.babergh.gov.uk/babergh/ldf
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