Lawshall Neighbourhood Plan
The Lawshall Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) was 'made' (adopted) by Babergh District Council in October 2017. This plan covers the period 2016 - 2036.
The NDP is now being reviewed (modified) by the parish council so that it can continue to help guide and shape development in the parish. The Lawshall NDP Review will cover the plan period 2021 - 2037.
The process for modifying a NDP is set out in the relevant regulations. The nature of the modifications will determine how much of the process needs to be repeated.
Lawshall NDP Review 2021 - 2037
Latest news...
Reg 18 Exam Report Decision Statement (6 March 2024)
Internal procedures agreed in September 2021 mean that a NDP can be advanced to the next relevant stage without Cabinet approval where there is no objection to implementing all of the Independent Examiners recommendations. That applies in this case and the decision is confirmed through publication of the following statement:
As soon as we can, we will publish the modified version of this NDP, together with an announcement on what happens next.
Previous stages...
Reg 17 Examination (final report 22 Feb 2024)
Babergh District Council appointed Ann Skippers BSc (Hons) MRTPI FHEA FRSA AoU to carry out an independent examination of the Lawshall NDP Review. The examination included two focused consultation periods which were relevant to the basic condition tests. Details of those events are published further below.
On Thursday 22 February 2024, the Examiner issued her final report. It recommends that while some further modifications need to be made to this plan, it does not need to go back to a local referendum and that, subject to these additional modifications being made, the district council should 'make' (adopt) the Lawshall NDP Review. We will publish our decision on that at the proper time. For now, please:
- Read the Lawshall NDP Review Exam Report (Feb 2024)
- See also the Examination Correspondence document
As a post-examination plan, the Lawshall NDP Review is now also a material consideration when determining relevant planning applications. See Planning Practice Guidance.
R17 Examination (1st focused consultation. Ended 11 Dec 2023)
Following publication of a new NPPF (in Sept 2023), and the adoption of the Joint Local Plan Part 1 (in Nov 2023), we carried out a focused consultation exercise on whether or not these two events had implications for the Lawshall NP Review with regard to it meeting two of the basic condition tests. The consultation period ran from Monday 27 November to Monday 11 December 2023.
A copy of the consultation letter, the representations, and Lawshall Parish Councils response to these are published below.
R17 Examination (2nd focused consultation. Ended 26 Jan 2024)
In late December 2023, the Government published a new NPPF. In light of this, a second focused consultation exercise was undertaken to allow for comments to be made on any implications arising from this with regard to this NDP meeting the relevant basic condition test. The consultation period ran from Wednesday 10 January to Friday 26 January 2024.
A copy of the consultation letter, the representations, and Lawshall Parish Councils response to these are published below:
Reg 17(e)(ii) Statement
The NDP regulations required the relevant local planning authority to submit a statement to the examiner that sets out their assessment of the nature of the modifications being made to the NDP.
Reg 16 Submission consultation (2 Aug to 15 Sept 2023)
The submission draft Lawshall NP Review was published for public consultation between 2 August and 15 September 2023.
The Parish Council (the qualifying body) had formally submitted the following documents.
- A Map identifying the NDP Area
- The submission draft Lawshall NP Review 2021-2037
- A Consultation Statement
- A Basic Conditions Statement. This includes the required statement which sets out what modifications have been made to the 2017 Plan and the Parish Councils' opinion that these changes will require examination but not a referendum.
- Copies of the SEA and HRA Screening Reports and Determination Notices (see under Previous Stages section below)
- A Lawshall Character Assessment (2023)
- A Design Guidance & Codes document
- An Assessment of Important Views
- A Local Green Spaces Assessment
- A Housing Needs Assessment (AECOM, Apr 2023)
An assessment on how this NDP meets the basic conditions will be undertaken by an Independent Examiner. Our initial check suggested that the relevant requirements had been met at this stage. View the Regulation 15 Checklist.
Respondents were also reminded that their comments would be forwarded to the examiner and, with the exception of personal details, be published on this website.
• See the Reg 16 Consultation responses
• See the Parish Councils response
Reg 15 Submission (late June 2023)
The Lawshall NDP Review was submitted to Babergh District Council on 23 June 2023.
SEA/HRA screening and determination (Jan 2023)
The pre-submission draft Lawshall NDP Review document was screened to decide whether a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and or a habitats regulations assessment (HRA) were needed. Both were 'screened-out'. The relevant reports and determination notices are published below:
- Read the Lawshall NP Review SEA screening opinion (LUC, Nov 2022)
- Read the Lawshall NP Review SEA determination notice (Jan 2023)
- Read the Lawshall NP Review HRA screening report (LUC, Nov 2022)
- Read the Lawshall NP Review HRA determination notice (Jan 2023)
Reg 14 Pre-submission consultation (15 Oct to 30 Nov 2022)
Pre-submission consultation on the Lawshall NDP Review document ended on 30 November 2022.
Please visit the parish council website for more information.
The adopted Lawshall NDP 2016 - 2036
Formal Adoption (24 Oct 2017)
At its Full Council meeting on 24 October 2017, Babergh District Council resolved to 'make' (adopt) the Lawshall NDP following a majority 'yes' vote by local residents.
The plan, which covers the period to 2036, now forms part of the development plan framework for the district and will be used to determine planning applications in the parish unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
- Read the adopted Lawshall NDP 2016 - 2036
- Read the adoption Decision Statement
- See the updated Character Assessment (Autumn 2017)
- View the Lawshall NDP Area Map
Reg 18 Local Referendum (19 Oct 2017)
Reg 17 Independent Examination (Aug 2017)
- Read the Examiners Final Report (23 Aug 2017)
- See the examination correspondence document (May 2017)
- See the HRA Screening Assessment & Consultation Reponses (Jun - Aug 2017)
Reg 16 Submission Consultation (13 Feb - 31 Mar 2017)
- See the submission draft Lawshall NDP (Jan 2017)
- See the Lawshall Character Assessment (Superseded by the update published in 2017)
- See the Consultation Statement (Jan 2017)
- See the Basic Conditions Statement (Jan 2017)
- Read the SEA Screening Report (Dec 2016)
- Read the Consultation Responses
Reg 14 Pre-submission Consultation (30 Oct - 11 Dec 2016)
- Carried out by the parish council