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Edwardstone Neighbourhood Plan
The Edwardstone 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 plan's area.
Reg 20 Formal adoption (18 Nov 2024)
In an 'out of meeting' decision published on Monday 18 November 2024 Babergh District Council agreed to adopt ('make) the Edwardstone 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 version of the Edwardstone NDP
- Read the adoption Decision Statement
- See the 'out of meeting' request
Supporting Evidence
The following documents act as supporting evidence for the adopted NDP:
- A Design Codes & Guidelines (AECOM, Feb 2024)
- An Edwardstone Data Profile (Mar 2022)
- A Green Corridors & Space Report (SWT, Sept 2023)
Previous stages...
Local referendum (14 Nov 2024)
A local referendum on the Edwardstone NDP was held on 14 November 2024. The question asked of those entitled to vote was: "Do you want Babergh District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Edwardstone 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 (28 Aug 2024)
New procedures agreed in September 2021 meant that a NDP could be advanced to a referendum without Cabinet approval where there is no objection to implementing the Examiner's recommendations in full. That applies in this case, and the decision is confirmed through publication of the following statement:
Reg 17 Examination (Final report 21 Aug 2024)
Babergh District Council appointed Ann Skippers BSc (Hons) MRTPI FRSA FHEA AoU to carry out an independent examination of the Edwardstone NDP. This relied upon the submitted documents and the written representations.
On Thursday 21 August 2024, the Examiner issued her final report. It praised the draft plan and recommends that, subject to certain modifications being made, it met the basic condition tests and that it should proceed to a local referendum.
- Read the Edwardstone NDP Exam Report (21 Aug 2024)
- See also the Examination Correspondence document (Exam start notice and procedures)
Reg 16 Submission consultation (29 Apr to 14 Jun 2024)
The submission draft Edwardstone NDP was made available for public consultation between 29 April and 14 June 2024.
The Parish Council (the Qualifying Body) had submitted the following documents:
- A Map identifying the NDP Area
- The submission draft Edwardstone NDP 2021 - 2037
- A Consultation Statement
- A Basic Conditions Statement
- Copies of the SEA & HRA Screening Reports, and our Determination Notices (see further below)
- A number of other supporting documents (now published above with the adopted NDP)
An assessment on how this NDP met the basic condition tests formed part of the examination. At the time of submission, our initial checks suggested that the relevant requirements had been met. See our Regulation 15 Checklist.
Respondents were also reminded that their comments would be forwarded to the independent examiner and, with the exception of personal details, be published on this webpage. The parish council were also given the opportunity to respond to new issues raised.
SEA/HRA Screening and Determination (Feb 2024)
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-out'. The relevant reports and our determination notice are published below:
- Read the Edwardstone NDP SEA Screening Report (LUC, Nov 2023)
- Read the Edwardstone NDP HRA Screening Report (LUC, Nov 2023)
- Read the Edwardstone NDP SEA HRA Determination Notice (Feb 2024)
Reg 14 Pre-Submission consultation (30 Oct to 11 Dec 2023)
Consultation on the pre-submission draft Edwardstone NDP ended on 11 December 2023.