Great Bardfield Neighbourhood Plan
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Regulation 17 – In March 2026 Braintree District Council in consultation with Great Bardfield Parish Council appointed the independent examiner Mr Derek Stebbing BA (Hons) DipEP MRTPI to examine the Draft Great Bardfield Neighbourhood Plan.
Focused consultation: Friday 7th August - 5:00pm Friday 21st August 2026 - legal compliance and Basic Conditions changes.
New provisions relating to how neighbourhood plans must be examined came into force on 25 March 2026 through Section 98 and Section 99 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act (LURA) 2023. The Examiner must consider the Great Bardfield Neighbourhood Plan against these new provisions. His letter provides more detail:
Great Bardfield Parish Council have provided an addendum to the original Basic Conditions Statement:
At the Examiners request, we are carrying out a focused consultation exercise on whether or not these new provisions have any implications for the Great Bardfield Neighbourhood Plan.
Consultation dates:
- Friday 7th August - 5:00pm on Friday 21st August 2026.
Please note that if you have previously made a representation on this NDP that is unaffected by the LURA changes you do not need to re-submit your comments. Also, that this is not an invite to submit new comments on the plan or to provide additional information connected with a previously made representation that are not relevant to the question being asked.
How to respond:
- Email your comments to planningpolicy@braintree.gov.uk at Braintree District Council
Alternatively, you can post your comments to:
- The Planning Policy Team, Braintree District Council, Causeway House, Bocking End, Braintree District Council. CM7 9HB
Please note that comments made cannot be treated as confidential and, with the exception of personal contact details, may be published.
Previously...
A Neighbourhood Area application was submitted to Braintree District Council by Great Bardfield Parish Council for the parish of Great Bardfield on 12 April 2019 under The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations (2012) as amended.
The application was approved on the 15th April 2019. The decision was made on the basis that the applicant was Great Bardfield Parish Council, who as parish Council are a relevant body, and the area applied for was the whole extent of Great Bardfield Parish.
Great Bardfield Neighbourhood Area Application Approval - 15th April 2019
Great Bardfield Parish Council undertook a Regulation 14 Consultation on the Draft Neighbourhood Plan for the Parish. The consultation closed on Friday 2nd August 2024.
- Great Bardfield Parish Council submitted a Neighbourhood Plan for the parish (under Regulation 15) on 24th July 2025 to Braintree District Council, along with 9 supporting documents.
SEA/HRA Screening and Determination
The Draft Great Bardfield NDP has been screened to determine whether a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and or a Habitats Assessment (HRA) are required. Both were 'screened-out'.
The screening assessment, was carried out by consultants, and the Determination Notice issued by Braintree District Council are published below:
- Great Bardfield SEA HRA Screening Report - May 2025
- Great Bardfield NDP SEA/HRA Environmental Determination Notice - Nov 2025
Regulation 16 Consultation 1st December - 26th January 2026
Great Bardfield Parish Council submitted a Neighbourhood Plan for the parish (under Regulation 15) to Braintree District Council, along with supporting documents.
Braintree District Council undertook a consultation in accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) between 1st December and 5pm on 26th January 2026.
Great Bardfield Neighbourhood Plan Reg 16 Consultation
Printed copies of the draft plan were available to view at the following locations:
- Community Information Point, Dunmow Road, (Between the Town Hall and the Bell Public House), Great Bardfield CM7 4SA - Thursdays and Saturdays 10:00-12:00
- Braintree District Council Offices, Causeway House, Bocking End CM7 9HB - during opening hours
For more information contact clerk@greatbardfield-pc.gov.uk or visit the Great Bardfield Parish Council website.
Updated August 2026
