Mendlesham Neighbourhood Plan

The Mendlesham Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) was adopted ('made') in March 2017. It is now being modified by Mendlesham Parish Council so that it can continue to help guide and shape future development in the parish.

The process for modifying an adopted NDP is set out in the relevant regulations. The nature of the modifications proposed will decide how much of the process needs to be repeated.

Latest news...

Reg 18 Exam Report Decision Statement (1 August 2022)

New procedures (agreed in September 2021) mean that a NDP can now be advanced to a referendum without Cabinet approval - where there is no objection to carrying out the examiner's recommendations. That applies in this case, and the decision is confirmed through publication of the following decision statement:

As soon as we can, we will publish the referendum version of this NDP, and confirm the date of the referendum.

Previous Stages…

Reg 17 Independent Examination (final report 22 June 2022)

Mid Suffolk District Council appointed Janet Cheesley BA(Hons) DipTP MRTPI to carry out an independent examination of this modification draft NDP. The examination was conducted through written correspondence.

On Wednesday 22 June 2022, the examiner issued her final report. It recommends that, subject to further amendment, this modification draft NDP meets the Basic Conditions and should proceed to a local referendum.

Reg 17 Examination issues and focused consultation (Spring 2022)

The examination process commenced in October 2021 but was then placed on hold to allow for two issues to be addressed. Those related to the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) screening process and to missing content from the Consultation Statement. The relevant documents were prepared / updated and a focused consultation on these alone took place between 15 March and 29 April 2022.

The revised Consultation Statement (Nov 2021) now includes a list of who was consulted at the Regulation 14 stage. It was also re-written to be more relevant to the modification draft NDP:

The SEA Screening Report (Nov 2021) confirms, retrospectively, that a full strategic environmental assessment of the modification draft NDP was needed.

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.

Reg 17(e)(ii) Statement

The NDP regulations required the relevant local planning authority to submit a statement to the examiner that sets out their assessment of the nature of the modifications made to an NDP. 

Reg 16 Submission Consultation (12 July to 17 Sept 2021)

Formal consultation on the submitted Modification Draft NDP was carried out by the district council between 12 July 2021 and 17 September 2021. The consultation period included a two week extension following publication of the revised National Planning Policy Framework on 20 July 2021.

The parish council (the qualifying body) had formally submitted the following documents:

An assessment as to whether this NDP meets the Basic Conditions will be carried out by the independent examiner. 

An initial check was carried out to confirm that the relevant requirements had been met at this stage. Read the updated Regulation 15 checklist

Respondents were reminded that their comments would be forwarded to the examiner and, with the exception of personal details, published on this website. Guidance from NPIERS in 2018 also introduced the opportunity for NDP groups to comment on the representations made at this stage. 

Reg 14 Pre-submission consultation (15 Feb - 12 Apr 2021)

Pre-submission consultation on the modification draft NDP took place between 15 February and 12 April 2021. Visit the parish council's website for more information.

HRA Screening and Determination (Sept 2020)

A working draft of the modified NDP was screened to determine whether a full Habitats Assessment (HRA) was required. The need for this was 'screened-out'.

The relevant report and determination notice are published below:

The adopted Mendlesham NDP (March 2017)

Formal adoption (23 March 2017)

At its Full Council meeting on 23 March 2017, Mid Suffolk District Council resolved to 'make (adopt) the Mendlesham NDP following a majority 'Yes' vote by local residents.

The Plan, which covers the period to 2031, now forms part of the development plan framework for the district and will be used to help determine planning applications in the parish unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Reg 18 Local referendum (2 March 2017)

Reg 17 Independent examination (Nov 2016)

Reg 16 Submission consultation (July - Sept 2016)

Reg 14 Pre-submission consultation (Oct - Dec 2015)

  • Carried out by the parish council. 

Reg 05 Area Designation (June 2013)