The Core Strategy is a Development Plan Document (DPD) forming part of the Local Development Framework (LDF).  It sets out the spatial vision, spatial objectives and strategy for the development of the District.  A Sustainability Report, prepared by Essex County Council on behalf of Braintree District Council, accompanies the document at each stage of the process.

The Core Strategy will cover the whole of the Braintree District and must be consistent with national policy and the East of England Plan.

The Local Development Framework Panel considers reports on the Core Strategy and other policy issues - link to LDF Panel agendas and reports

DPD's will be prepared in accordance with the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) and will also be the subject of an independent public examination by an Inspector appointed by the Government.  The Council must incorporate any changes required by the Inspector and then adopt the DPD.  Once adopted, decisions on planning applications have to be made in accordance with the plan.

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CURRENT STAGE OF PREPARATION:

The Submission Draft Core Strategy was approved by the Council on 15th February. Final changes will be made to this pre-Submission Draft following the meeting of the LDF Panel on 14th April.

Core Strategy Evidence Base Work
A number of documents have been completed to date and can be viewed on the Evidence Base page.

The following documents are currently in production:
Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) (anticipated March 2010)
Highways and Transportation Study update (anticipated February 2010)
Retail Study update (anticipated March 2010)
Equalities Impact Assessment (anticipated February 2010)
Schedule of Infrastructure Requirements (anticipated February 2010)

SEA/SA of draft Submission Core Strategy (anticipated March 2010)_____________________________________________________________________________

FUTURE STAGES TIMETABLE:
Pre Submission Consultation (6wks): April – June (Monday 26th April – Friday 4th June)
Member Consideration of Reps (4wks): July
Submission to the Secretary of State: August (w/b 16th)
Pre Hearing Meeting: October (w/b 11th)
Hearing (up to 2wks): Nov/Dec (Monday 22nd November – Friday 3rd December
Inspectors Report Received: April 2011 (w/b 25th)
Adoption: June 2011 (w/b 27th)
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PREVIOUS STAGES:

Pre-production Stage A, Development of the Evidence Base:
A number of preliminary workshops were held with local organisations and schools, and a 'Contact' questionnaire was delivered to every property in the District in October 2006.  In addition to this a number of studies were commissioned to help inform the Core Strategy; these are listed within the document.  The results of both of these activities were used to inform the Issues and Options document.

Production Stage B, Preparation of Preferred Options, Regulation 25:
The Issues and Options document built on the work carried out at the pre-production stage by setting out a series of options for the future of the area on which views were invited.  Consultation was undertaken in respect of the document for a period of six weeks from 19th April 2007.  The consultation responses were reported to the LDF Panel held on 25th July 2007.

- SEA and SA for Issues and Options Document - Non technical summary

Consideration of Representations to 'One District - One Vision' and amendment of document:
The 'People and Places Consultation' on the 'One District - One Vision' - A Draft Strategy for People and Places in the Braintree District to 2025 document took place from 31st October 2008 – 19th December 2008.  The document combines the Council's Sustainable Community Strategy and Core Strategy for planning, and is accompanied by a  Technical Supplement. The document builds on the Braintree District 2025 Issues and Options Consultation that was held in 2007.  It sets out the Council's preferred locations for future development.

- Summary Consultation Guide for 'One District - One Vision'
- People and Places Consultation Leaflet

- One District One Vision Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment Report 2009

Comments received concerning the Draft Core Strategy were reported to, and considered by, various LDF Panel meetings during 2009.

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SUBMISSION OF SITES PROPOSED FOR DEVELOPMENT IN LDF BY LANDOWNERS/DEVELOPERS:

During the Core Strategy Issue and Options consultation period we received many representations proposing sites, which landowners and developers wanted the Council to consider, when preparing the Core Strategy Preferred Options and the Allocations documents.  Further site requests were invited during the period from 28th August to 17th September 2007 and these were collated in the Sites Proposed for Development in the Local Development Framework by Landowners/Developers document Volume 1 Urban Responses and Volume 2 Rural Responses.

Additional sites have since been submitted and the Sites Proposed document has been revised. The information gathered will help inform the Council’s future Allocations Development Plan Document. 

- Sites Proposed for Development in LDF by Landowners and or Developers Volume 1.1 Urban Responses by Ward Name A to F

- Sites Proposed for Development in LDF by Landowners and or Developers Volume 1.2 Urban Responses by Ward Name G to W

- Sites Proposed for Development in LDF by Landowners and or Developers Volume 2.1 Rural Responses by Ward Name A to F

- Sites Proposed for Development in LDF by Landowners and or Developers Volume 2.2 Rural Responses by Ward Name G to W

If you have previously submitted a site and the proposal has since changed, or if you no longer wish to promote a site, please notify the Planning Policy section accordingly.

Updated 17/2/2010