“It’s fantastic news this neighbourhood plan is now over the line after over eight years in the making."
The Feering Neighbourhood Plan is the seventh neighbourhood plan to be adopted in the Braintree district, after councillors unanimously voted to approve it at a meeting of Full Council yesterday (Tuesday, 3 January).
The plan, created by Feering Parish Council, can now be used when determining future planning applications in the area. It sets out how the local community want to shape the development and growth of their area and what it should look like. This includes focusing on safeguarding historic buildings and green spaces, protecting and improving community facilities and what local infrastructure should be provided.
This follows a planning referendum held on Thursday 27 October 2022 where 94.68% of votes were in favour of the neighbourhood plan to help decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area, with 23 (5.25%) against.
Councillor Gabrielle Spray, Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure at Braintree District Council, said: “It’s fantastic news this neighbourhood plan is now over the line after over eight years in the making. I would like to thank and congratulate the parish council and the local community on producing an excellent plan which will now be used as a key document when deciding future planning applications in the area.”
Paul Lees, Chairman of Feering Parish Council, said: “As a community we are delighted that Braintree District Council have adopted Feering Neighbourhood Plan. We expect that the Neighbourhood Plan will ensure that Feering Parish Council will be consulted as part of the master planning process for the Braintree District Council adopted Local Plan policy LPP 21 strategic growth location of Feering and that any new developments in Feering will be environmentally cutting edge, in keeping with the village and sustainable both in construction and infrastructure.
“The plan has taken several years of effort by the community and reflects the community’s desire to take its responsibilities to future generations seriously.”
There are seven neighbourhood plans that have been adopted in the district, including in Coggeshall, Cressing, Hatfield Peverel and Kelvedon. Nine more plans are currently in progress.
The Feering Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed on the council’s website at www.braintree.gov.uk/feeringneighbourhoodplan.
More information about neighbourhood plans can be found on the council’s website: www.braintree.gov.uk/neighbourhoodplan.