Copdock & Washbrook Neighbourhood Plan

A new Copdock & Washbrook Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) is being prepared by the Parish Council and local community. Covering the period 2023 - 2037, it aims to help guide and shape future development in the parish.

Latest news...

Local Referendum (Thur 24 July 2025)

A local referendum on the Copdock & Washbrook NDP 2023 - 2037 will be held on Thursday 24 July 2025.

The question that will be asked of those entitled to vote is: 'Do you want Babergh District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Copdock & Washbrook to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Plan Area?'

This local referendum will be conducted in a manner similar to other local elections. Further notices will be published on our elections webpage in the coming weeks.

Previous stages...

Reg 18 Decision Statement (28 Mar 2025)

Procedures agreed in late 2021 meant that a NDP could be advanced to a local referendum without Cabinet approval where there was no objection to implementing the Examiner's recommendations in full. That applies in this case, with our decision confirmed through publication of the following statement:

Reg 17 Examination (Final Report 17 March 2025)

Babergh District Council appointed Ann Skippers BSc (Hons) MRTPI FRSA AoU to carry out an independent examination of the new Copdock & Washbrook NDP. The examination relied upon the submitted documents and written representations. As part of the examination, a focused consultation exercise was carried out on a new Design Guidelines document.

On Monday 17 March 2025, the Examiner issued here final report. It recommends that, subject to certain modifications, this NDP meets the basic condition tests and that it should proceed to a local referendum.

Planning Practice Guidance also provides advice on the 'weight' to be attached to this post-examination plan.

Design Guidelines consultation (20 Jan - 5 Feb 2025)

In late 2024, the Parish Council submitted a new Design Guidelines document to sit alongside their new NDP. It replaced all previous versions. Written comments on this new document were invited during a focused consultation exercise that ran from 20 January until 5 February 2025. The new Design Guidelines document and the representations on this can be found below:

Reg 16 Submission consultation (7 May to 21 June 2024)

The new submission draft Copdock & Washbrook NDP was made available for public consultation between 7 May and 21 June 2024. 

The Parish Council (the Qualifying Body) had submitted the following documents: 

An assessment on how this NDP met the basic condition tests formed part of the examination. Our initial checks suggested that the relevant requirements had been met at this stage. See our Regulation 15 Checklist.

Respondents were also reminded that their comments would be forwarded to the examiner and, with the exception of personal details, be published on this webpage. The Parish Council were also given the opportunity to respond to any new issues raised at this stage.

SEA/HRA Screening and Determination (July 2023) 

The new pre-submission draft NDP was screened to determine whether a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and or a Habitats Assessment (HRA) were required. Both were 'screened-out'. The relevant reports and determination notices are published below:

Reg 14 Pre-submission consultation (11 Mar - 28 Apr 2023)

Pre-submission consultation on the new NDP ended on 28 April 2023. 

Reg 05 - Area Designation (28 Sept 2018)