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Laxfield Neighbourhood Plan
The Laxfield Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) has been prepared by Laxfield 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 (14 April 2022)
In an ‘out of meeting’ decision taken on Thursday 14 April 2022, Mid Suffolk District Council agreed to 'make' (adopt) the Laxfield NDP.
This NDP, which covers the plan period to 2036, now forms part of the development plan and will be used to help decide planning applications in the parish unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
- Read the adopted version of the Laxfield NDP
- Read the adoption Decision Statement
- See the Action out of Meeting request
Supporting Evidence
The following documents provide supporting evidence for the adopted NDP:
- Laxfield Landscape Appraisal (2018/19)
- Laxfield Natural Environment Assessment
- Laxfield Local Green Space Assessment (Oct 2020)
- Laxfield Built Environment Character Assessment (Oct 2020)
- Laxfield Village Appraisal (2008) [Note: this is a large file]
- Heritage & Settlement Sensitivity Assessment (BMSDC, Mar 2018) [Laxfield extract]
- Laxfield Site Options & Assessment Report (AECOM, May 2019)
- Laxfield Housing Needs Assessment (AECOM, July 2019)
- Laxfield Household Survey
- Laxfield Youth Survey
Previous stages...
Local Referendum (24 March 2022)
A local referendum on the Laxfield NDP was held on 24 March 2022. The question asked of those entitled to vote was: 'Do you want Mid Suffolk District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Laxfield to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Plan Area?'
- See the Declaration of Results - a majority yes vote
Reg 18 Decision Statement (18 Feb 2021)
On 8 February 2021, Mid Suffolk's Cabinet committee agreed that, subject to modification, the Laxfield NDP should proceed to a local referendum.
Reg 17 Independent Examination (December 2020)
Mid Suffolk District Council appointed Janet Cheesley BA (Hons) DipTP MRTPI to carry out an independent examination of the Laxfield NDP. The examination was conducted through written correspondence.
On 4 December 2020, the Examiner issued her final report. It recommended that, subject to modification, this NDP meets the basic conditions and that it should proceed to a local referendum.
Reg 16 Submission Consultation (17 Aug - 12 Oct 2020)
The submission draft Laxfield NDP was made available for public consultation between 17 August and 12 October 2020. The parish council (as the qualifying body) had formally submitted the following documents:
- A Map identifying the NDP Area
- The Submission draft Laxfield NDP
- A Consultation statement
- A Basic Conditions statement
- Copies of the SEA and HRA Screening Reports and Determination Notices (see further below)
- A number of supporting evidence documents (now published above with the adopted NDP)
An assessment on how this NDP met the basic conditions formed part of the examination. At the time of submission, our initial checks suggested that the relevant requirements had been met. View the Reg 15 Checklist
Respondents were reminded that their comments would be forwarded to the examiner and, with the exception of personal details, would be published on this website.
SEA/HRA Screening and Determination (May 2020)
The pre-submission draft NDP was screened to determine whether a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and or a Habitats Assessment (HRA) were needed. Both were 'screened-out'. Copies of the relevant reports and Notices of Determination are published below:
- Read the Laxfield NDP SEA Screening Report (LUC, Mar 2020)
- Read the Laxfield NDP SEA Determination Notice (May 2020)
- Read the Laxfield NDP HRA Screening Report (Place Services, Apr 2020)
- Read the Laxfield NDP HRA Determination Notice (May 2020)
Reg 14 Pre-submission consultation (22 Feb - 6 Apr 2020)
Consultation on the pre-submission draft version Laxfield NDP by the Parish Council closed on 6 April 2020.