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Wherstead Neighbourhood Plan
The Wherstead Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) has been prepared by Wherstead Parish Council and the local community and will be used to help guide and shape future development in the parish.
Reg 20 Formal adoption (27 July 2023)
In an ‘out of meeting’ decision published on Thursday 27 July 2023, Babergh District Council agreed to adopt ('make') the Wherstead 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 Wherstead NDP
- Read the adoption Decision Statement
- See the Action out of Meeting request
Supporting evidence
The following documents provide supporting evidence for the adopted NDP:
- Wherstead Design Guidelines & Codes (AECOM, Aug 2021)
- Appraisal of Views in Wherstead
- Landscape & Wildlife Evaluation Report (SWT, 2021)
- Local List of Buildings & Structures Appraisal
Previous stages...
Local Referendum (Wed 19 July 2023)
A local referendum on the Wherstead NDP was held on 19 July 2023. The question asked of those entitled to vote was: "Do you want Babergh District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Wherstead to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Plan Area?"
- Read the Declaration of Results (a majority yes vote)
Reg 18 Exam Report Decision Statement (3 May 2023)
New procedures agreed in September 2021 meant that a NDP could be advanced to a referendum without Cabinet approval where there was no objection to implementing the Examiner's recommendations. That applied in this case, and the decision was confirmed through publication of the following statement:
Reg 17 Examination (Final Report - 6 April 2023)
Babergh District Council appointed Ann Skippers BSc (Hons) MRTPI FHEA FRSA AoU to carry out an independent examination of the Wherstead NDP. The examination relied on written correspondence.
On 6 April 2023, the Examiner issued her final report. It recommended that, subject to modification, this NDP met the basic condition tests and that it should proceed to a local referendum.
- Read the Wherstead NDP Final Exam Report (6 Apr 2023)
- See also the examination correspondence document
Reg 16 Submission consultation (16 Nov 2022 to 20 Jan 2023)
The submission draft Wherstead NDP was made available for public consultation between 16 November 2022 and 20 January 2023. The Parish Council (the qualifying body) had formally submitted the following documents:
- A Map identifying the NDP Area
- The submission draft Wherstead NDP 2018 - 2037
- A Consultation Statement (NB: A large, 21Mb file)
- A Basic Conditions Statement
- Copies of the SEA and HRA Screening Reports and Determination Notices (see under SEA/HRA section below)
- A number of supporting documents (now published above with the adopted NDP)
An assessment on how this NDP met the basic condition test formed part of the examination. At the time of submission, our initial checks suggested that the relevant procedural requirements had been met at this stage. View the Regulation 15 Checklist.
Respondents were also reminded that their comments would be forwarded to the independent examiner and, with the exception of personal contact details, be published on this website.
SEA & HRA Screening and Determination (Sept 2022)
Initial screening of the Wherstead NDP took place in late 2021. The draft NDP underwent further screening in June 2022 to determine 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 Wherstead NDP SEA Screening Report (LUC, June 2022)
- Read the Wherstead NDP SEA Determination Notice (Sept 2022)
- Read the Wherstead NDP HRA Screening Report (LUC, July 2022)
- Read the Wherstead DNP HRA Determination Notice (Sept 2022)
Reg 14 Pre-submission Consultation (9 Oct to 22 Nov 2021)
Pre-submission consultation on the draft Wherstead NDP ended on 22 November 2021.