Residents, businesses and community groups are being reminded that there's still time to comment on the Braintree District Submission Draft Local Plan before the consultation closes 5pm on 6 November.
The Regulation 19 consultation is the final opportunity for people to submit comments on the proposed Local Plan before Full Council decide in December whether to submit the plan to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination.
The Local Plan is an important document that helps shape how the Braintree district could grow and develop up to 2043. It sets out where new homes, jobs and infrastructure could be located, alongside policies to protect and enhance the environment, heritage and green spaces. Once adopted, the Local Plan will be used to help guide planning decisions across the district.
The Government requires every local planning authority to have an up-to-date plan that identifies sufficient sites to meet the government’s mandatory housing target, and it is a legal requirement to have one.
The plan has been prepared following earlier public engagement, updated technical evidence, engagement with infrastructure providers and changes to national planning policy.
At this stage, people are being asked to review the proposed plan and supporting evidence and tell the council whether they think the plan has been prepared correctly, is supported by appropriate evidence and meets national planning requirements.
Councillor Gabrielle Spray, Cabinet Member for Planning at Braintree District Council, said: "An up-to-date Local Plan is essential to ensuring we can meet the need for homes, jobs and supporting infrastructure over the long term, while also helping to protect the environment, the character of our communities and setting out where development shouldn’t take place.
"The housing requirement we must plan for is set by central government, and without an up-to-date Local Plan we would have significantly less control over where development takes place and less ability to influence the infrastructure needed to support growth. It could also mean potential government intervention - having elements of decision-making powers taken away and being instructed what to do with the Local Plan.
"This is the final opportunity for residents, businesses and community groups to comment on the Submission Draft Local Plan and I would encourage everyone with an interest in the future of the district to review the documents and submit their comments before the consultation closes, so their comments can be considered directly by the Planning Inspector."
Full details of the consultation, supporting documents and guidance on making a representation are available at www.braintree.gov.uk/localplan2043.
Hard copies of the consultation documents and response forms are available at local libraries across the district and at Causeway House in Braintree.
After the consultation closes, the plan will go to Full Council to decide whether to submit the plan to the Secretary of State for independent examination, which would include sharing all comments received in the consultation. A Planning Inspector would then review the plan, consider the representations submitted and determine whether any changes are needed before it can be adopted.
If people wish to make any points to the Planning Inspector at the examination, they must submit a representation to this consultation.