Assington Neighbourhood Plan
The Assington Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) has been prepared by Assington Parish Council and local community and will be used to help guide and shape future development in the parish.
Latest news...
Reg 20 Formal Adoption (2 March 2022)
In an ‘out of meeting’ decision taken on Wednesday 2 March 2022, Babergh District Council agreed to adopt ('make') the Assington NDP.
This NDP now forms part of the development plan and will be used to help decide planning applications in the parish, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
- Read the adopted version of the Assington NDP
- Read the adoption Decision Statement
- Read the Action out of Meeting request
Previous stages...
Local referendum (24 February 2022) - a majority 'Yes' vote
A local referendum was held on 24 February 2022 to decide if the Assington NDP should become part of the Council’s development plan. The count took place the following day.
The question asked was 'Do you want Babergh District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Assington to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Plan Area?'
Reg 18 Decision Statement (20 July 2021)
On 5 July 2021, Babergh’s cabinet committee agreed that, subject to modification, the Assington NDP should proceed to a local referendum.
Reg 17 Independent Examination (final report 19 March 2021)
Babergh District Council appointed Ann Skippers BSc (Hons) MRTPI FHEA FRSA AoU to carry out an independent examination of the Assington NDP. The examination was conducted through written correspondence.
On 19 March 2021, the examiner issued her final report. It recommended that, subject to modification, the Assington NDP meets the basic conditions and should proceed to a local referendum.
Planning practice guidance also provides advice on the weight to be attached to a post-examination plan.
Reg 16 Submission Consultation (24 August – 16 October 2020)
The district council undertook formal consultation on the submitted NDP, to see whether it fulfils the Basic Conditions set out in the Town & Country Planning Act 1990.
The consultation was carried out in accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012 (as amended). The consultation period ran from Monday 24 August until Friday 16 October 2020.
The parish council (the qualifying body) had formally submitted the following documents:
- A map identifying the area to which the proposed NDP relates
- The submission draft Assington NDP
- A consultation statement
- A Basic Conditions statement
- A copy of the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) determination notice
- A copy of the habitats regulations assessment (HRA) determination notice
- A list of supporting documents
An assessment as to whether this NDP fulfils the Basic Conditions will be carried out by an independent examiner. An initial check was carried out to confirm that the relevant requirements had been met at this stage. View the Regulation 15 Checklist
Respondents were reminded that their comments would be forwarded to the examiner and (with the exception of personal details) published on this website.
SEA/HRA Screening and Determination (May 2020)
The pre-submission draft NDP was screened to decide whether an SEA and/or an HRA were needed. Both were 'screened-out'. The relevant reports and determination notices, which confirm that this plan is unlikely to have significant environmental effects, are published below:
- Read the Assington NDP SEA screening report (LUC, Mar 2020)
- Read the Assington NDP SEA determination notice (May 2020)
- Read the Assington NDP HRA screening report (Place Services, Feb 2020)
- Read the Assington NDP HRA determination notice (May 2020)