We are undertaking a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) and are currently consulting on the draft methodology of the Assessment. The SHLAA will provide information on the potential for housing to meet identified needs within the study area. It will be part of the evidence base to inform the production of the Local Development Framework (LDF).

The SHLAA is a technical study and outcomes of the study do not give a presumption towards development. Any development site will need to be assessed through the planning process.

A joint SHLAA will be completed for the following four administrative areas within Suffolk namely:

• St Edmundsbury Borough;
• Forest Heath District;
• Mid Suffolk District; and
• Babergh District.

To ensure consistency and clarity in the consultation process comments should be submitted to Babergh District Council, who will collate the responses on behalf of all four authorities. Comments can be made by completing the online questionnaire via online consultation or downloading and returning the below questionnaire. The questionnaire is intended to help facilitate the consultation process. Written comments should be forwarded to Planning Policy, Babergh District Council, Corks Lane, Hadleigh, IP7 6SJ or emailed to: ldf@babergh.gov.uk. All comments must be submitted by 5pm on the 7^th of July 2008.

To assist new users in submitting their comments, Guidance notes have been produced. No comments can be treated as confidential, as all submissions will be publicly available to be view by anyone with an interest in the preparation of the SHLAA.

Please note that there will be an opportunity to comment on the draft SHLAA once completed. It is anticipated that the draft Assessment will be published during the summer of 2008.