The following SPD documents (listed below in alphabetical order) have been produced to date: -

- Affordable Housing
Braintree District Council has adopted an Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The document sets out the process and mechanisms for the delivery of affordable housing in Braintree District. The SPD will expand and provide
further detail on the Braintree District Local Plan
Review Policy RLP 5 Affordable Housing in New
Developments for developers, housebuilders and the
public.

- Affordable Housing SPD Sustainability Appraisal
The Sustainability Appraisal (SA) has been prepared in accordance with government guidance.  The SA considers identified environmental, social and economic objectives and provides baseline information relating to affordable housing in the District. It assesses the likely effects of the Affordable Housing SPD.

External Artificial Lighting SPD
On 30th September 2009 Braintree District Council adopted the External Artificial Lighting Supplementary Planning Document. The document sets out the issues relating to external artificial lighting in Braintree District and provides advice and guidance on what factors will be taken into consideration by the Council in determining planning applications for external artificial lighting schemes. The SPD expands upon and provides further details on the interpretation of Braintree District Local Plan Review Policies RLP 65 External Lighting and RLP 135 Floodlighting of Sports Facilities. It gives guidance on:

Issues relating to obtrusive light caused by external artificial lighting schemes General factors to be taken into consideration Use specific factors to be taken into consideration Information that should accompany a planning application Types of planning conditions which may be applied Guidance for lighting schemes for outdoor sports facilities

The SPD is an important tool for the Council, developers and others involved in negotiating to secure the provision of appropriate and environmentally friendly lighting schemes through planning applications.

External Artificial Lighting SPD Sustainability Appraisal (SA) (Final document will be available on this page shortly)
The Sustainability Appraisal examines the External Artificial Lighting SPD for its economic, social and environmental impacts. Using the same sustainability objectives as the sustainability appraisal of the Braintree District Local Plan Review policies, the SA compares the effects of the SPD in adding value to the Local Plan Review policies instead of just relying on those policies as the sole basis for determining planning applications for or including external artificial lighting schemes.

(The  Green Spaces Strategy  forms part of the evidence base for future green space planning policies in the Local Development Framework and will influence future management and maintenance plans for green spaces that will be produced by the Council. The Strategy also forms the basis of the Draft Open Space Supplementary Planning Document.)

- Land East of Halstead High Street Development Brief

- Open Space Supplementary Planning Document
The Open Space Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) sets out the process and mechanisms for the delivery and improvement of open space in Braintree District. The SPD expands upon and provides further details on the interpretation of Braintree District Local Plan Review Policies RLP 138 Provision of Open Space in New Housing Developments and RLP 163 Infrastructure and Community Facilities. It gives guidance on:

- The types of development that are required to contribute to open space provision or improvement

- The types of open space for which a contribution is required

- Calculation of the amount of on site provision to be provided

- Calculation of the financial contribution towards off site provision

- Provision for the on-going maintenance of open space

The SPD is an important tool for the Council, developers and others involved in negotiating to secure the provision and improvement of open space through new development.

Adoption Statement

In accordance with Regulation 19(a)(ii) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development)(England) Regulations 2004 (as amended) notice is given that Braintree District Council’s Open Space Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was adopted on 18th November 2009 The SPD will come into effect on 1st April 2010.

The SPD expands upon and provides further details upon the interpretation of Braintree District Local Plan Review Policies RLP 138 Provision of Open Space in New Housing Developments and RLP 163 Infrastructure and Community Facilities.

The adopted SPD and the Report on Consultation are available for public inspection at Braintree District Council Offices, Causeway House, Bocking End, Braintree CM7 9HB during normal office hours and at all public libraries in Braintree District.

Any person with sufficient interest in the decision to adopt the Open Space SPD may apply to the High Court for permission to apply for a judicial review of the decision. Any such application must be made promptly and in any event not later than 3 months after the date on which the SPD was adopted.

- Open Space SPD Sustainability Appraisal (SA)
The Sustainability Appraisal examines the Open Space SPD for its economic, social and environmental impacts. Using the same sustainability objectives as the sustainability appraisal of the Braintree District Local Plan Review policies, the SA compares the effects of the SPD in adding value to the Local Plan Review policies instead of just relying on those policies as the sole basis for open space delivery.

- Planning for Sustainable Design and Construction
- Planning for Sustainable Design and Construction - Checklist

- Silver End Shops Site Development Brief
A development brief for this site in the centre of Silver End village has been approved by Braintree District Council. This brief has been the subject of considerable public consultation and will therefore form the basis for considering any future development proposals relating to the site.

- Urban Place Supplement (UPS)
Essex County Council, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and the East of England Development Agency, launched the Essex Design Initiative in January 2005. Its aim was to improve the quality of the built environment and create genuinely sustainable communities. One of the principal strands in meeting these aims is the production of new urban planning guidance. The Essex Design Guide for Residential Areas has been used for many years to provide guidance on appropriate design and layouts for residential development in Essex and beyond. With increasing pressure for new development in Essex, much of it at higher densities it was considered that additional design guidance was required to supplement the Essex Design Guide and the Urban Place Supplement (UPS) has been produced to help deliver high quality, attractive developments which are sustainable and respect the local area.

The UPS has been prepared by a technical working group led by officers of the Essex County Council Built Environment Branch working with colleagues from both within Essex County Council and other Essex councils. Braintree District Council adopted the majority of the UPS as a supplementary planning document, on 19th June 2007, to support policies in the Braintree District Local Plan 2005.  

Please note that the Council has not adopted the following sections in the Urban Place Supplement:

Section 5.8 – Accommodating the Car
Section 6.2 – Spatial Criteria
Sections 7.0-7.3 – Applying the guidance: Development Scenarios

Village Design Statements also provide planning guidance and are approved as material planning considerations.