‘Shape the future of your community’ – Councils step in to provide funding for Neighbourhood Plans

A Neighbourhood Plan is written by the local community to help ensure that the right types of development are built in the right place. They carry legal weight when planning applications are decided.

Until last year, groups developing a plan could access financial and technical support from the government through an organisation called Locality, with basic grant payments of £10,000. 

The government, however, withdrew this in June 2025.

Now Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils have agreed alternative funding of up to £20,000 to support groups prepare Neighbourhood Plans which help to meet housing need in the area.

Cllr Andrew Stringer, cabinet member for heritage, planning and infrastructure, said: “We have always encouraged communities to take some degree of control over development in their areas through these plans, so it was vital we explored ways of continuing to support financially.

“This money will help provide communities with the level of technical support needed to deliver robust plans.”

Cllr Sallie Davies, cabinet member for heritage, planning and infrastructure, said: “The government has imposed extremely challenging housing requirements on our district, so it is important that communities can develop plans for their areas.

“Without funding to support them, this would be much harder to achieve – so we are pleased to be able to step in.” 

It follows the government’s increase in housing requirements across the country, as part of its ambition for 1.5million new homes in this parliament. In Babergh, the housebuilding requirement has risen from 416 to 779 new homes a year (up 87%) and in Mid Suffolk from 535 to 748 (up 40%).

The grants will support plans which seek to allocate sites for housing development, that make an agreed contribution to meeting the district-wide housing needs.

There are already 50 adopted Neighbourhood Plans in Babergh and Mid Suffolk, with others in preparation or being considered.

They have statutory weight and status in the planning process – and are used to help guide and decide planning applications in conjunction with the Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan, national planning policies and any other material considerations.

Pictured: Cllr Andrew Stringer and Cllr Sallie Davies