Hintlesham & Chattisham Neighbourhood Plan

The Hintlesham & Chattisham Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) is being prepared by the Parish Council and local community. It builds on the work undertaken as part of a People & Place Plan project. When complete, the NDP will be used to help guide and shape future development across the designated plan area.

Latest news...

Referendum version NDP published (Sept 2026)

A formal announcement on the date of the local referendum to be held on the Hintlesham & Chattisham NDP will be made in due course. In the meantime, we are publishing this plan in its final form:

Previous stages...

Reg 18 Decision Statement (21 Aug 2026)

In September 2021, the Council adopted working procedures that would allow for a NDP to be advanced to a referendum without Cabinet approval where there was no objection to implementing the Examiner's recommendations in full. That applies in this case, with the decision confirmed through publication of the following statement:

Reg 17 Examination (Final Report 7 Aug 2026)

Babergh District Council appointed Ann Skippers BSc (Hons) MRTPI FRSA AoU to carry out an independent examination of the Hintlesham & Chattisham NDP.  This relied on the submitted documents and written representations.

On Friday 7 August 2026, the Examiner issued her final report. It recommends that subject to certain modifications being made, this NDP meets the basic condition tests and that it should proceed to a local referendum.

Planning Practice Guidance also provides advice on the weight now attached to this post-examination plan.

Reg 16 Submission consultation (ended 29 May 2026)

Consultation on the submission draft Hintlesham and Chattisham NDP took place between 23 March and 29 May 2026. The consultation period included a two-week extension for the reason set out below.

Addendum to the Basic Conditions Statement (Apr 2026)

On 25 March 2026, Section 98 and Section 99 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act (LURA) 2023 came into force. In relation to neighbourhood planning, these amend the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in respect of the legal compliance and the Basic Condition requirements.

Section 98 deals with legal compliance matters relating to climate change and taking account of local nature recovery strategies while Section 99 replaces the 'general conformity' basic condition with a new requirement that 'the neighbourhood plan would not result in less housing development taking place in its area if was not made'.

Because there were no transition arrangements, the Parish Council were invited to submit an addendum to their Basic Condition Statement so that it too could be consulted on. This addendum identifies how the policies in the submission draft Plan satisfy Section 98 and 99 of the LURA.

See also below a list of the other submitted documents: 

At the time of submission, our checks suggested that the relevant procedural requirements had been met. See our Reg 15 Checklist.

Respondents were reminded that their comments could not be treated as confidential and, with the exception of personal contact details, they would be published on this webpage. The Parish Council were also given the opportunity to respond to new issues raised at this stage. 

SEA/HRA Screening and Determination (Oct 2025)

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 documents are published below:

Reg 14 Pre-submission consultation (ended 26 Sept 2025)

Consultation by the Parish Council on their pre-submission draft NDP closed on 26 September 2025. 

Reg 05 Area Designation (24 Jan 2025)