Where are the homes going to be built?  

Various options have been considered and tested. The draft local plan (known as the Regulation 18 plan) sets out the council's provisional, preferred option. This is what the consultation running now is about. The council’s preferred option can be found in the draft local plan document available on our planning portal. 

What happens if the council doesn’t put forward enough sites to meet the housing need?  

The council is committed to address the housing need within the Braintree district and to do this in a sustainable way that is linked to the provision of necessary infrastructure whilst protecting the special environmental quality of the district in line with national planning policy. 

The approach will be subject to scrutiny by residents and a range of stakeholders that will include development promoters. 

An independent Inspector (Planning Inspectorate) will consider the arguments in a Public Examination and the conclusions of which are likely to be binding on the council. If we do not meet our housing need and cannot demonstrate exceptional circumstances as to why we cannot, we are unlikely to be permitted to adopt the plan and will continue to be subject to speculative development. 

How much affordable housing will be provided and where will it go?  

The council will seek the maximum viable amount of affordable housing from developers (30% on sites located in the main towns of Braintree (including Great Notley, Bocking and High Garrett), Witham, Halstead, Sible Hedingham and development sites directly adjacent to these areas, and 40% in all other areas).  

Infrastructure  

What about infrastructure, like schools and GP surgeries? 

The Local Plan doesn’t allow new homes to come forward without the infrastructure to support them. The plan is designed to make sure new homes and jobs are supported by the right infrastructure. This includes schools, health facilities, transport, parks, and utilities. An Infrastructure Delivery Plan sits alongside the Local Plan to show how and when these improvements will happen.  

When planning applications are approved, a legal agreement (known as a Section 106 agreement) specifies the contributions a developer is required to make towards the delivery of new and improved infrastructure. Once the monies are received by the Council, plans are put in place to deliver the prescribed infrastructure or key partners such as the NHS are made aware that they money is available for them to spend. 

Will we get the additional infrastructure before development takes place?  

Where development is proposed then the Local Plan will set out the infrastructure needed and provide more information about this. The timing of the provision is a key consideration in deciding on the acceptability of a proposed development. The Council agrees that an infrastructure first approach is necessary. The best way to secure the infrastructure we need is by having an up-to-date Local Plan in place which specifies our requirements for infrastructure. Without an up-to-date Local Plan, it is must easier for a developer to get a planning permission with a lower requirement for infrastructure. 

There is no guarantee additional infrastructure will be built if it’s not in the Local Plan  

To be found sound, a plan needs to clearly set out the infrastructure needed to support the level of growth proposed and demonstrate how this will be delivered. Therefore, the best way to secure the infrastructure we need is by having an up-to-date plan in place. 

How will local services and infrastructure cope?  

All the potential locations for new homes and jobs have been assessed to identify the local services and infrastructure that will be needed to support the level of development proposed. 

Where there is a need for additional capacity then consideration will be given to how this capacity will be provided and if there is sufficient development value in the proposed scheme to ensure that the developer is in a position to provide the infrastructure at the appropriate stage in the development of the proposed scheme. 
 
For this Regulation 18 consultation, only limited work has been completed on infrastructure requirements. The feedback we receive relating to infrastructure will inform the development of the updated Local Plan and its approach to infrastructure requirements. This includes asking the NHS, Essex County Council and National Highways about their infrastructure requirements. 

What about the improvements to the A12 and A120?  

We have long championed for the A12 project and A120 dualling to help improve safety, reduce congestion, and supporting both housing and economic growth across the region and the Braintree district.  

The withdrawal of A12 funding was hugely disappointing after years of planning and work. It meant we had to re-look at our options for growth as part of the Local Plan. We have repeatedly urged National Highways and the government, alongside Essex County Council, to proceed with the A120 dualling project, but no decision has yet been made.  

We continue to lobby government to prioritise and not abandon investment into essential infrastructure improvements to the A12 and A120 to support housing and economic growth.  
 
Considerable technical work on the highways evidence base is required to support the Local Plan. This is ongoing. The Council has entered into discussions with National Highways in relation to the A12 only with the right mitigation in place will the current preferred spatial option be found sound.