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Boxford Neighbourhood Plan
The Boxford Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) has been prepared by the Parish Council and local community and will be used to help guide and shape future development in the parish.
Reg 20 Formal Adoption (31 October 2022)
In an ‘out of meeting’ decision taken on Monday 31 October 2022, Babergh District Council agreed to adopt ('make') the Boxford NDP.
This NDP, which covers the plan period to 2037, now forms part of the development plan and will be used to help determine planning applications in the parish unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
- Read the adopted Boxford NDP 2021 - 2037
- Read the adoption Decision Statement
- See the Action out of Meeting request
Supporting Evidence
The following documents act as supporting evidence for the adopted NDP:
- Boxford Design Guidelines & Codes (AECOM, Mar 2021)
- Boxford Housing Needs Assessment Report (AECOM, Sept 2020)
- Boxford Site Options Assessment Report (AECOM, Aug 2021)
Previous stages...
Local Referendum (27 Oct 2022)
A local referendum on the Boxford NDP was held on 27 October 2022. The question asked of those entitled to vote was: "Do you want Babergh District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Boxford to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Plan Area?".
- See the declared result (a majority yes vote)
Reg 18 Exam Report Decision Statement (24 June 2022)
New procedures agreed in September 2021 meant that a NDP could be advanced to a referendum with Cabinet approval where there was no objection to implementing the examiner's recommendations in full. That applied in this case, and the decision was confirmed through publication of the following statement:
Reg 17 Examination (Final report 13 June 2022)
Babergh District Council appointed Janet Cheesley BA (Hons) DipTP MRTPI to carry out an independent examination of the Boxford NDP. The examination was conducted through written correspondence.
On 13 June 2022, the Examiner issued her final report. It recommended that, subject to modification, this NDP met the Basic Conditions and should proceed to a local referendum.
Reg 16 Submission Consultation (7 Mar – 29 Apr 2022)
The submission draft Boxford NDP was published for consultation between the 7 March and 29 April 2022.
The parish council (the qualifying body) had formally submitted the following documents:
- A map identifying the NDP area
- The submission draft Boxford NDP 2021 - 2037
- A Consultation Statement
- A Basic Conditions Statement
- A Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) Report (AECOM, Jan 2022)
- An SEA Scoping Report (AECOM, Oct 2021)
- Copies of the SEA & HRA Screening Reports and Determination Notices (see below)
- A number of other supporting documents, now published above with the adopted NDP.
An assessment on how this NDP met the basic conditions formed part of the examination. At the time of submission, our initial checks suggested that the relevant procedural requirements had been met. See our 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.
SEA/HRA Screening and Determination (Sept 2021)
The pre-submission draft NDP was screened to determine whether a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and or a Habitats Assessment (HRA) were required. Both were 'screened-in'. The relevant reports and determination notices are published below:
- Read the Boxford NDP SEA Screening Report (LUC, July 2021)
- Read the Boxford NDP SEA Determination Notice (Sept 2021)
- Read the Boxford NDP HRA Screening Report including Appropriate Assessment (Place Services, Aug 2021)
- Read the Boxford NDP HRA Determination Notice (Sept 2021)
Reg 14 Pre-submission Consultation (8 July to 13 Sept 2021)
Pre-submission consultation on the draft Boxford NDP ended on 13 September 2021.