Woolpit Neighbourhood Plan
The Woolpit Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) has been prepared by the Parish Council and local community and will be used to help guide and shape future development in the parish.
Latest news…
Reg 20 Formal Adoption (31 October 2022)
In an ‘out of meeting’ decision taken on Monday 31 October 2022 Mid Suffolk District Council have agreed to adopt ('make') the Woolpit NDP.
This NDP 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 version of the Woolpit NDP
- Read the adoption Decision Statement
- See the Action out of Meeting request
Previous stages...
Local Referendum (27 October 2022) - majority 'yes' vote
A local referendum was held on 27 October 2022 to decide if the Woolpit NDP should become part of the Council's development plan. The count took place the following day.
The question asked was: "Do you want Mid Suffolk District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Woolpit to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Plan Area?"
Reg 18 Decision Statement (19 October 2020)
On 5 October 2020, Mid Suffolk’s cabinet committee agreed that, subject to modification, the Woolpit NDP should proceed to a referendum.
Reg 17 Independent Examination (final report 3 August 2020)
Mid Suffolk District Council appointed Janet Cheesley BA (Hons) DipTP MRTPI to carry out an independent examination of the Woolpit NDP. The examination was conducted through written correspondence and included a focused two-week consultation on proposed significant modifications.
On 3 August 2020 the examiner issued her final report. It recommended that, subject to modification, the Woolpit NDP meets the basic conditions and should proceed to a local referendum.
Planning practice guidance also provides advice on the weight to be attached to a post-examination plan.
Reg 17 Consultation on Proposed Significant Modifications (22 June to 13 July 2020)
At the Examiner's request, the Council undertook a focused two-week consultation on proposed significant modifications to the Woolpit NDP.
These were first identified in an Open Letter to the Parish Council dated 4 March 2020 and re-confirmed in a letter dated 24 June 2020. Both letters are included in the Examination Correspondence Document
The proposed significant modifications included the deletion of policies WPT1 (Spatial Strategy) and WPT5 (the housing allocation on land north of the primary school) from the plan. It was also proposed that policies WPT3 (Land south of Old Stowmarket Road) and WPT4 (Land east of Green Lane) could remain, but as existing commitments rather than allocations.
Copies of the written representations received on these matters were sent to the Examiner.
Reg 16 Submission Consultation (16 Dec 2019 – 7 Feb 2020)
The district council carried out formal consultation on the submitted NDP, to see whether it fulfils the Basic Conditions set out in the Town & Country Planning Act 1990.
The consultation was carried out in accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012 (as amended). The consultation period ran from 16 December 2019 to 7 February 2020.
The parish council (the qualifying body) had formally submitted the following documents:
- A Map identifying the NDP area
- The submission draft Woolpit NDP (Oct 2019)
- A Consultation Statement
- A Basic Conditions Statement
- A list of Supporting Documents
- A Statement confirming that the Plan is unlikely to have significant environmental effects
An assessment as to whether this NDP fulfils the Basic Conditions will be undertaken by the Independent Examiner. Initial checks confirmed that the relevant requirements had been met at this stage. View the Regulation 15 Checklist
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.
SEA/HRA Screening & Determination (May 2019)
The pre-submission draft NDP was screened to determine whether a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and/or a Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) were required. Both were 'screened-out'. The relevant report and determination notices are published below:
- Read the Woolpit NP SEA/HRA Screening Report (Place Services, April 2019)
- Read the Woolpit NP SEA Determination Notice (May 2019)
- Read the Woolpit NP HRA Determination Notice (May 2019)