Hoxne Neighbourhood Plan
The Hoxne Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) has been prepared by Hoxne Parish Council and the local community and will be used to help guide and shape future development in the parish.
Latest news...
Reg 20 Formal adoption (11 April 2024)
In an 'out of meeting' decision published on Thursday 11 April 2024. Mid Suffolk District Council agreed to adopt ('make') the Hoxne NDP.
This NDP, which covers the plan period to 2037, now forms part of the development plan and will be used to help determine planning applications in the parish unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
- Read the adopted Hoxne NDP (Spring 2024) [n.b. This is a large file]
- Read the adoption Decision Statement
- See the 'out of meeting' request
Supporting Evidence
The following documents act as supporting evidence for the adopted NDP:
- Hoxne Design Codes (AECOM, Aug 2023) [The post-examination version]
- Landscape Assessment
- Landscape & Biodiversity Evaluation Report (SWT, 2021)
- Local Green Space Assessment
- Heritage Landscape Review
- Housing Needs Assessment Report (AECOM, Nov 2020)
- Housing Needs Survey Report (CAS, July 2020)
- Housing Needs Assessment Response
- Site Assessment report
- Traffic & Transport Overview
- a Background Evidence report
Previous stages...
Local Referendum (4 April 2024)
A local referendum on the Hoxne NDP was held on 4 April 2024. The question asked of those entitled to vote was: 'Do you want Mid Suffolk District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Hoxne to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Plan Area?'
- See the declared result (a majority yes vote)
Reg 18 Exam Report Decision Statement (21 July 2023)
New procedures, agreed in September 2021, meant that a NDP could be advanced to referendum without Cabinet approval where there was no objection to implementing the Examiner's recommendations in full. That applied in this case, and the decision was confirmed through publication of the following statement:
Reg 17 Independent Examination (Final Report dated 23 June 2023)
Mid Suffolk District Council appointed Janet Cheesley BA (Hons) DipTP MRTPI to carry out an independent examination of the Hoxne NDP. The examination included a focused consultation exercise on a revised Basic Conditions Statement.
On 23 June 2023, the Examiner issued her final report. It recommended that, subject to modification, the Hoxne NDP met the basic conditions and that it should proceed to a local referendum.
- Read the Hoxne NDP Final Exam Report (23 June 2023)
- See also the examination correspondence document
Focused consultation on revised Basic Conditions Statement (ended 9 June 2023)
A high-level assessment of the NDP by the Examiner identified an issue with the submitted Basic Conditions Statement. In summary, it did not include an assessment of this NDP against what was, relevant to that time, adopted strategic policy. A revised Basic Conditions Statement was consulted on between 24 April and 9 June. The revised statement and the representations on this are published below:
Reg 16 Submission consultation (15 Feb to 31 Mar 2023)
The submission draft Hoxne NDP was made available for public consultation between 15 February and 31 March 2023. The Parish Council (the qualifying body) had formally submitted the following documents:
- A Map identifying the NDP Area
- The submission draft Hoxne NDP 2022 – 2037
- A Consultation Statement
- A Basic Conditions Statement (superseded by one published under the Reg 17 heading)
- Copies of the SEA and HRA Screening Reports and Determination Notices (see further below)
- An SEA Environmental Report (AECOM, June 2022)
- A copy of Natural England’s response to the consultation on SEA Environmental Report
- A Design Codes document (AECOM, Oct 2021) (superseded by the version published with the adopted NDP)
An assessment on how this NDP met the basic conditions formed part the examiner. At the time of submission, our initial checks suggests that the relevant requirements had been met. View the Regulation 15 Checklist.
Respondents were also reminded that their comments would be forwarded to the independent examiner and, with the exception of personal contact details, be published on this website.
SEA/HRA screening and determination (Feb 2022)
The pre-submission draft NDP was screened to determine whether a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and or a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) were needed. The need for an SEA report was 'screened in'. The need for an HRA was 'screened-out'. The relevant reports and determination notices are published below:
- Read the Hoxne NDP SEA Screening Report (LUC, Nov 2021)
- Read the Hoxne NDP SEA Determination Notice (Feb 2022)
- Read the Hoxne NDP HRA Screening Report (Place Services, Feb 2022)
- Read the Hoxne NDP HRA Determination Notice (Feb 2022)
Reg 14 Pre-submission Consultation (10 Jan to 23 Feb 2022)
Consultation on the pre-submission draft version Hoxne NDP by the parish council closed on 23 February 2022.