Local Plan Review - Guiding sustainable growth

We're in the process of reviewing our Local Plan. The council’s current Local Plan covers the period up to 2033 but has to be reviewed and updated if necessary, at least every five years, to keep up with Government policies and legislation.

The review will extend the Local Plan’s timeframe from 2033 to 2041, looking at growth options post 2033 to meet evolving longer-term needs of communities and changing national planning guidance and best practice.

What is a Local Plan?

The Local Plan serves as the strategic framework that guides where businesses and homes will be located, and protection of the green environment and heritage.

The Braintree district is evolving and changing, our population is growing and people are living longer lives.

We have to make sure there are enough homes for young people, families and older residents. Having no growth is not an option, so the council creates the Local Plan to ensure future growth happens sustainably and development is properly planned.

It’s not just about homes – it’s also about creating jobs alongside new homes being built, accompanying infrastructure needed to support the population, open spaces, community facilities and protecting our environment.

Putting all this in place for communities costs money. Developers pay something called ‘Section 106 contributions’, which go towards providing infrastructure that supports the site being developed and the local community.

They are only to be used for things that are needed and directly related to the development, and also by the relevant authority such as NHS for healthcare and Essex County Council for schools and highway improvements. The council can’t use them for anything else and they have to be spent within a set timeframe.

Having a clear and up-to-date plan for managing growth makes sure the Braintree district remains a vibrant and attractive place to live, work, socialise and study.

Have your say

We want input from residents and businesses to help shape this updated plan.

Further opportunities for you to influence the future of your district during this process will take place in due course. Keep updated on timings via the channels listed below.

View the Local Plan Review

Sign up to our planning email newsletter

View our Facebook page

Improving places to play

This year, we have made a significant investment in enhancing the skateparks located in Ramsey Road in Halstead, Spa Road in Witham and Weavers Park in Braintree, creating exciting new spaces for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy.

These transformative upgrades were funded by a combination of Section 106 funding and a council contribution, totalling just over £500,000. The new facilities boast modern ramps, smooth concrete surfaces and features catering to a wider range of skill levels and ages.

At Ramsey Road, the upgrades go even further, promoting inclusivity through accessible play area equipment, hammocks for older children and a new outdoor gym. These improvements are designed to support our communities to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle.

Meet our cover star Jenson

When news of the Ramsey Road skatepark revamp hit social media, Jenson Inkpin shared his excitement with us. He became a regular fixture at the park, rushing down before and after school to witness the construction progress with growing anticipation and was one of the first to try it out once it was completed.

Jenson is seven years old and has been skateboarding for two years. After receiving a penny board for Christmas, he learnt how to push and tic-tak from a family friend and then attended a ‘Learn to Skate’ event in Chelmsford where he borrowed a proper board and learned how to pump and turn the board. He hasn’t looked back!

Jenson said:

I love pushing myself each week, learning a new skill or trick every time I go, me and my Dad love to check out new parks all over Essex, mainly because the original Braintree park was hard to skate on as it was a little rubbish.

 

My favourite skatepark now is Halstead but before that it was Channels at the Beaulieu estate in Chelmsford but I go to skate parks in Sudbury, Silver End, Tiptree, Saffron Walden and lots of other places including London.

 

The previous Ramsey Road Park wasn’t very good, it didn’t have any flow and it was difficult to use as a beginner. The new park is much better, I can already drop in from the 6ft and go over the Box. The halfpipe is a good size to learn new tricks on.

 

My favourite trick is a 360 olly, this is when all wheels are off the ground and you spin the whole way round. It is hard at first and takes lots of practice.

 

My dream is to skate at the Olympics or skate in America at one of the amazing parks. I love Skye Brown and Nyjah Huston.

Support our Markets!

Braintree holds a market every Wednesday and Saturday from 7.30am to 3.30pm. Stalls include fruit and veg, fish, baked goods, cheese, household items and tools, plants, cupboard essentials and jewellery.

The Braintree Monthly Street Market usually runs on the last Saturday of the month between March and December from 9am to 5pm. This bumper market includes street food stalls, handmade items and gifts, sweet treats, collectables and clothes.

Witham holds a market every Saturday in the Newlands Shopping Centre from 7.30am to 3.30pm with stalls including food, household items, handmade crafts, jewellery, clothing and accessories.

Coggeshall holds a market every Thursday between 8am and 12pm, selling fruit and veg, fish, cheese, baked items and freshly made Indian delicacies. Find it on Stoneham Street.

Runs on the third Saturday of the month at White Colne Village Hall from 9am to 12pm with local produce, food, drink, arts and crafts.

Runs on the second Saturday of the month on Bures Common with food, drink, plants, flowers, jewellery and other handmade items. Runs from 10am to 1pm.

Changing climate: are you flood-resilient?

UK Met Office data shows that winters have become 15% wetter over the last 100 years. The warmer air caused by climate change also contributes to heavier rainfall, which can cause flash floods.

While Essex was less impacted than other parts of the country, last winter and spring we still saw a number of flooding events in the district.

The good news is that there are measures you can take to be flood resilient.

Make a Plan

Having a flood plan in place will save you valuable time in an emergency.

• Insurance: Check your insurance policy to make sure you are covered
• Energy and water: Find out how to turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies
• Put together an emergency flood kit: Mobile phones and chargers, emergency cash and credit cards, children’s essentials, torch with spare batteries, bottled water
• Store all your most important documents in a waterproof tub: Make sure it’s easy to access, along with contact details for important people and organisations, like your insurance and utilities suppliers.

Protect your home

You can make changes to your home to prevent water from getting in.

Check your flood risk before making these, as not every home will need them all.

Measures you can take include:

• installing flood resistant external doors or buying a temporary flood barrier to use when needed
• installing a membrane in (‘tanking’) vulnerable rooms
• replacing traditional air bricks with self-closing ones
• buying an inflatable 'bung' to temporarily block your toilet and avoid sewage backflow
• fitting flood resistant valves in drain and water pipes.

Useful links

View the Government personal flood plan guidance

View the National flood forum checklist and action plan

View the Government page to sign up for flood warnings

View the Government page to check for flood warnings

View the Flood Re website

View the Government prepare for an emergency campaign

View the Blue Pages flood directory website

Support for happier and healthier families

We are dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of all families in our community. Throughout the district there are a range of services and support programs designed to meet the needs of children, young people and families and we strive to help everyone live a fulfilling and healthy life.

If you are looking for a free and fun way to spend a Saturday morning then head to the King George V Playing Fields in Halstead for the ParkPlay sessions.

This fantastic community event brings people of all ages together for games, activities, and laughter. It’s a perfect opportunity to meet new friends, get active, and enjoy the great outdoors!

Find out more information and register to play on the ParkPlay website

Essex ActivAte: fun, food, and fantastic holidays!

Keep your kids entertained and well-fed during the holidays with Essex Activate!

This fantastic programme offers free holiday clubs packed with exciting activities, from sports and arts to cooking and outdoor adventures. Plus, kids enjoy delicious, nutritious meals! Whether they’re budding athletes, creative geniuses, or just looking for fun, there’s something for everyone.

6,000 spaces are offered across 19 different clubs including two offering SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) provision and one mental wellbeing hub.

Find out if you are eligible to take part

Visit the active Essex website for more information, how to book and the list of clubs

Please contact Active Essex if you have any questions.

Health and Wellbeing panel grant

In 2023/24 we awarded £20,155 to 20 very deserving local charities and community groups to enhance the health and wellbeing of families in our district.

The grants aim to support our livewell priorities for projects tackling obesity, increasing physical activity, addressing frailty and improving mental health.

• Braintree Mencap
• CARA Essex
• Dance Network Association
• Grow with the flow
• Interact
• POP Essex
• Team Kinetix

and many more.

Making the district’s streets safer

Over the past few years Braintree District Council has been delivering Safer Streets projects in Witham and Halstead alongside our partners. We have been talking to the community, hearing their concerns and using the Home Office Funding and match funding to run a series of initiatives to make where you live safer.

Witham

The Witham Safer Streets Programme ran from October 2022 to March 2024. We were awarded £297,202 of Home Office funding to deliver the Safer Streets Programme in Witham. In addition to this funding, £150,506 of match funding was provided by various members of the Braintree District Community Safety Partnership to support the bid.

• 3,108 home security measures given out
• 1,000 anti-spiking items given out
• 1,928 attendances to teen sport activities and self defence classes at Witham Leisure Centre
• 11 CCTV cameras throughout Witham
• 1 Witham Street Warden
• 2 bleed kits in licensed premises
• 2 community safety impact nights
• 713 sexual assault therapy sessions from Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse (CARA)
• 2 Spot it, Stop it training sessions
• 1 Dog Day event that lead to 65 Dogwatch sign-ups

Halstead

The Halstead Safer Streets Programme started in October 2023 and will run until March 2025. The Home Office funding came to a total of £300,223, and a further £150,171 was match funded by partners.

We ran a survey to understand the concerns for Halstead locals and received 309 responses which highlighted the three main concerns as antisocial behaviour (66%), drug use (63%) and groups of people congregating (59%).

The three main areas of concern within the specified area of Halstead were Halstead Public Gardens, Weavers Court Car Park and the High Street.

Initiatives have already started in Halstead such as increased CCTV, parking barriers, a Dog Day, CARA counselling sessions, free teen and self-defence classes at Halstead Leisure Centre and the introduction of a Halstead Street Warden.

Braintree

Over the last four years Braintree town centre has experienced ongoing antisocial behaviour issues which have impacted on local businesses, residents and those visiting the town centre. Reports have been received from local businesses along with members of the public, those living in residential properties within the town centre.

To address this, we will be introducing a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). PSPOs can be introduced for identified public areas where the local authority is satisfied that certain conditions have been met.

Councils can use PSPOs to prohibit specified activities, and/or require certain things to be done by people engaged in particular activities, within a defined public area. Those who breach the order without a reasonable explanation could be subject to enforcement action.

The story so far... £1m Cost of Living Fund

Last year, we announced we were allocating our £1m New Homes Bonus to a £1m Cost of Living Fund to support our residents in accessing support during the Cost of Living crisis.

Here is how that money has been spent so far:

• £98,951 to Braintree Area Foodbank for outreach and delivery
• £22,135 to provide 500 free electric blankets to vulnerable residents
• £10,000 to Sport for Confidence to run accessible sports sessions
• £500 to provide free period products to those facing homelessness
• £140,000 awarded as part of the Cost of Living Small Grants Scheme

We also have funding allocated for a range of upcoming projects that we can’t wait to share with you!

If you run a community group or have an idea for the Cost of Living Fund, please get in touch with our Community Services team via communityservices@braintree.gov.uk

Rural Boost

£558k in Grants elevate Local Businesses and Communities.

Rural businesses and community groups within our district are set to receive a significant financial boost, thanks to the allocation of £558k in grants from the UK Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund.

Nineteen organisations have been allocated grants ranging from £10,000 to £50,000 for the delivery of capital projects in rural areas.

The grants will be used to improve community facilities, grow local tourism economies and help rural businesses expand products, amenities and services.

The Rural England Prosperity Fund is a rural top-up to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, from which we’ve already spent £377k since 2022 supporting businesses and communities.

The primary goal of the fund is to stimulate business growth and create employment opportunities in rural areas. The initiative aims to boost productivity, strengthen the rural economy and enhance the vibrancy of rural communities.

Tuffon Hall Vineyard and Wedding Venue in Sible Hedingham will be using the funds to build a glamping pod to complement its existing onsite accommodation.

Blackmore End Village Hall will replace an outdated sewage system dating back to the 1920s.

Daniel Miller, Trustee at Blackmore End Village Hall and Playing Field, said:

This project will go a long way towards improving our village hall and making it more sustainable. The hall acts as the hub of our small community, offering many events and opportunities for local people to come together. We are very happy to have been awarded this grant, allowing us to improve this vital part of our village and reach out to more people.

The grants will be paid to recipients once projects are complete.

Planning permission granted for Witham’s new community centre

Our plan to build a new multi-use community centre in Witham has been approved at planning committee.

The three-storey centre will be built on land next to Haygreen Road, just behind the Aldi supermarket off Hatfield Road.

The plans include a mixed-use hall, kitchen, bar area and changing rooms to serve sports players using the adjacent football pitch.

The communities in and around Witham will be able to use the hall to play sports, attend meetings or events and go to social clubs.

There will be 32 car parking spaces, plus an additional four for disabled drivers. There will also be 14 secure bicycle lockers for cyclists.

The site will be landscaped with plants and trees and an area of open space north of the building will be retained, along with a number of trees.

Building work is expected to start later this year.

Cllr Mary Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, said:

With these plans, we are supporting the residents of Witham as well as communities within the surrounding villages too. Community centres are places where people of all ages can meet to socialise, play games as well as participate in sports. They are important hubs which keep minds and bodies healthy as well as reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. With this approval, we’re a step closer in bringing this important asset to fruition.

Love your district, love your planet

Over the past year, we have seen so many Braintree District residents quietly making changes that add up to a better world: conserving rainwater, litter picking and composting.

We all know that small actions add up to big change.

One of the best ways to help our world is to look at what and how we consume. Everything we buy has used precious resources to create, package, ship and sell it.

Recycling is good, but we can do better...

• Have a buy less mindset: When you buy something, think about where it will end up. Do you need it or are you spending money on something that is quickly going into landfill?
• Swap the way you shop: Our district has several shops selling loose items, from cleaning products to dry goods like pasta or tea. Bring your own containers and buy only what you need. Download the Refill app for all your local options
• Use it again and again and again: When something breaks, why not see if it’s an easy fix instead of a costly replacement? For electrical goods, bikes, sewing machines or even clothes, try the monthly Repair Cafés: Braintree Repair Café, every 3rd Saturday of the month at Cornerstone Church, Black Notley, and Great Notley Repair Café - see the Great Notley repair café Facebook group for details.
• Re-home it: Our addiction to fast fashion is a huge problem for the planet. Why not arrange a clothes swap with friends, neighbours or work colleagues? It’s a fun way to get to know people and can get you a new wardrobe for nothing!
• Put it in the recycling: If all else fails, there are options to recycle. It doesn’t all end with your kerbside collection; in the Braintree District you can recycle so much more. Visit the Recycle Now website for more information.