Braintree District Council is proposing to update its Local Plan timetable, as further work is required on highway modelling and a review of development sites.
Having reviewed a series of smaller housing sites earlier this year, the Local Plan Sub-Committee have spent the last several weeks reviewing large strategic sites (500+ homes) submitted to the council by developers and landowners, alongside new infrastructure such as roads, healthcare, and community facilities.
Whilst the Committee has agreed for several of these larger sites to be included in their first draft of the council’s updated Local Plan, it has become clear that there is still a need to identify sites for the remaining 1,097 homes that the council needs to plan for.
Further evidence on the likely transport and highways impacts of the sites suggested to be included in the draft plan is also required. As a result, the council requires more time before it can move forward with the planned “Preferred Options” public consultation.
Braintree District Council is required to allocate land for housing of around 1,300 homes a year up to 2041, a target that is mandatory and set by central government. If it doesn’t, it risks applications for development being more likely granted at appeal by Inspectors, who act for the national government, and reduce the council’s and community’s influence over what kind of housing is built and where.
The Preferred Options consultation, the first of 2 stages of formal statutory consultation, is now expected to take place in February 2026. It will ask residents for views on the draft Local Plan including the proposed sites before any final decisions are made on the final sites that will be included.
Councillor Gabrielle Spray, Cabinet Member for Planning and Chair of the Local Plan Sub-Committee at Braintree District Council, said: “It is disappointing we’d had to make changes to the timetable, however it demonstrates the significance of the Local Plan process and the complex challenges we face in meeting housing targets set by government, whilst ensuring we protect the environment and deliver necessary infrastructure for existing and new communities.
“We need to ensure we identify the right level of housing so the Local Plan will be found sound when it is submitted, making sure we base our growth plans on the most robust and up-to-date evidence.
“We also need to make sure we protect ourselves from speculative development and the best way to do this is to have an up-to-date Local Plan.
“We’re still in the early stages of updating the Local Plan with lots of decisions still to be made, and with that comes more opportunities for residents to engage and share their views before any final decisions are made.
“We know residents will be keen to share their views in the consultation and we look forward to inviting comments to help shape the plan early in the New Year – this will be the next opportunity to have your say before the next stage of developing the plan is taken forward in the spring of 2026.”
The proposed revised timeline is available on the council’s website, which needs to be formally set out and approved in an updated Local Development Scheme, which will be discussed with members at a Local Plan Sub-Committee in due course. Full details on how residents can take part in the consultation when it launches will be available on the council’s website, social media and dedicated planning email newsletter.