Braintree District Council has published its Submission Draft Local Plan ahead of consideration by the Local Plan Sub-Committee on 17 September 2026.
Braintree District Council has published its Submission Draft Local Plan ahead of consideration by the Local Plan Sub-Committee on 17 September 2026.
The draft plan has been developed following consideration of representations received during the Regulation 18 consultation, alongside ongoing work on the evidence base supporting the Local Plan and national planning policy requirements.
If endorsed by the Local Plan Sub-Committee, the Submission Draft Local Plan will be considered by Full Council on 21 September 2026. Councillors will then decide whether the plan should proceed to Regulation 19 consultation.
The Submission Draft Local Plan is an updated document that reflects feedback received during the previous consultation stage and sets out how future growth across the district could be supported by the infrastructure needed to meet the needs of existing and future communities.
The plan also seeks to ensure that infrastructure is secured to support planned growth and delivers the housing target required by national government.
Councillor Gabrielle Spray, Cabinet Member for Planning at Braintree District Council, said:
“We have carefully considered the comments received during the Regulation 18 consultation and used this feedback, together with updated evidence and national policy requirements, to inform the Submission Draft Local Plan."
Subject to Full Council approval, Braintree District Council anticipates that the Regulation 19 consultation will begin on 23 September 2026 and run for six weeks.
The Regulation 19 consultation is the final opportunity for people to comment on whether the plan meets legal requirements and is considered sound before it is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination. Any representations received as part of the consultation will be submitted directly to the Planning Inspectorate alongside the Local Plan documentation.
Residents, businesses and stakeholders are reminded that comments must be submitted through the formal Regulation 19 consultation process. Comments received outside of the consultation cannot be taken into account as part of the examination process.