Insight

Suffolk Local Plan Watch - Spring 2024

10.4.24 2 MINUTE READ

A mixed picture across Suffolk, in terms of plan-making progress.

With Part 1 of the Babergh and Mid Suffolk Local Plan having recently been adopted, West Suffolk’s Proposed Submission consultation having recently concluded, whilst East Suffolk Council and Ipswich Borough Council have recently adopted Local Plans. In this context the December 2023 changes to the NPPF have significant consequences, limiting opportunities for any sites not allocated.

Following the Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan (Part 1) Adoption, Work on Part 2 of the Plan (to include site allocations and a review of settlement boundaries) continues, with a recent ‘Call for Sites’ consultation concluding, notwithstanding that Part 2 Plan is only required to identify sites to deliver 1,191 new homes in Babergh District, and 0 in Mid-Suffolk.

Ipswich Borough Council and East Suffolk continue to enjoy up-to-date Local Plans with no published timetables for review, although East Suffolk are expected to commence the initial formal stages of plan preparation in 2025.

Five-Year Land Supply

Given the status of the various LPA’s across Suffolk, and the December 2023 changes to the NPPF there are very limited five-year land supply opportunities.

Notwithstanding this position brought about by the latest iteration of the NPPF, a General Election will take place later this year, and the Labour Party have stated that (if elected) they would take “decisive and early” action to reverse the recently introduced changes to the NPPF and would introduce “mandatory targets that bite on individual planning authorities” and an “effective mechanism for cross-boundary strategic planning.”

All Suffolk authorities are performing well under the Housing Delivery Test, whereby the titled balance is not applied in any of the authorities

For detail on emerging Local Plan position in Suffolk, please click on the map below.

Contributors:

Iain Hill

Partner, Planning

Darren Cogman

Associate, Planning

Our Planning team

Iain Hill

Partner, Planning

Iain is a planning expert who uses his extensive master planning experience to contribute to the creation of award-winning developments.

Darren Cogman

Associate, Planning

Darren is a senior associate within Bidwells' planning department.

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Spring 2024

Local Plan Watch

Our Local Plan Watch provides an update on the progress of the Local Plans coming forward across our region to allocate new land for development and highlights the key opportunities for landowners, promoters and developers.

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Suffolk Local Plan Watch - Spring 2024