Stebbing Neighbourhood Plan is formally 'made'
A planning document which will help to shape change and growth in Stebbing has been formally adopted by Uttlesford District Council.
The Stebbing Neighbourhood Plan was 'made' at a meeting of Council last night (19 July). This means the plan will now become a statutory development document when dealing with planning applications in the area. The decision follows a successful referendum held in the parish on 23 June, which saw 534 residents vote in favour of the plan (97%) and 17 vote against it. The plan had already gone through a period of public consultation and undergone independent examination.
It becomes the fifth neighbourhood plan to be adopted in the district, following Great Dunmow, Thaxted, Felsted, and Newport, Quendon & Rickling.
A number of other towns and villages are in various stages of preparing their own plans - Ashdon, Great & Little Chesterfords, and Saffron Walden are in the final stages of the process. Broxted & Cherry Green, Hatfield Heath, Hatfield Broad Oak, Little Dunmow, Little Easton, Radwinter, Stansted Mountfitchet and Takeley neighbourhood plans are all at the early stages.
Neighbourhood plans establish local planning policies for the development and use of land within an area. Their purpose is to assess the character of the area, realise the hopes and aspirations of the community, and set policies to influence what future development should look like.
Uttlesford District Council is committed to supporting towns and villages through the neighbourhood planning process and put a strong focus on this work in its Corporate Plan 2022-26: www.uttlesford.gov.uk/corporate-plan. The council also has an agreement with the Rural Community Council of Essex to support communities interested in community-led planning.
For more information about neighbourhood plans, visit www.uttlesford.gov.uk/neighbourhood-plans.
20 July 2022