Leavenheath Neighbourhood Plan

Main Panel Title

The Leavenheath Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) has been prepared by the Parish Council and local community and will be used to help guide and shape future development in the parish.

Reg 20 Formal adoption (27 July 2023)

In an ‘out of meeting’ decision published on Thursday 27 July 2023 Babergh District Council agreed to adopt ('make') the Leavenheath 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.

Supporting Evidence

The following documents provide supporting evidence for this NDP:

Previous stages...

Local Referendum (19 July 2023)

A local referendum on the Leavenheath NDP was held on 19 July 2023. The question asked of those entitled to vote was: "Do you want Babergh District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Leavenheath to help it decide planning applications on the Neighbourhood Plan Area?"

See the declared result (a majority yes vote)

Reg 18 Exam Report Decision Statement (31 Jan 2023)

Procedures agreed in September 2021 meant that a NDP could be advanced to a 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:

Read the Leavenheath NDP R18 Decision Statement

Reg 17 Examination (Final Report - 1 Dec 2022)

Babergh District Council appointed Janet Cheesley BA (Hons) DipTP MRTPI to carry out an independent examination of the Leavenheath NDP. The examination was conducted through written correspondence.

On 1 December 2022, the Examiner issued her final report. It recommended that, subject to modification, this NDP met the basic condition tests and that it should proceed to a local referendum.

Reg 16 Submission consultation (5 Sept to 4 Nov 2022)

The submission draft Leavenheath NDP was published for consultation between 5 September and 4 November 2022. This included a precautionary two-week extension after a correction was made to the consultation statement.

A full list of the submitted documents appears below:

A Map identifying the NDP Area
The submission draft Leavenheath NDP 2022 – 2037
The updated Consultation Statement (Please note: This is a large file)
A Basic Conditions Statement
Copies of the re-issued SEA and HRA screening reports and determination notices (as published below)
A number of other supporting documents (now published above with the adopted NDP)

An assessment on how this NDP met the basic condition tests formed part of the examination. At the time of submission, our initial checks indicated that the relevant procedural requirements had been met. See our 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 (Aug 2022)

Initial screening of the draft Leavenheath NDP took place in late 2021, with determination notices issued in January 2022. The draft NDP was then subject to further screening in June 2022. This concluded that a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and or a Habitats Assessment (HRA) were not required. The 2022 Reports and Determination Notices are published below:

Reg 14 Pre-submission Consultation (6 Sept to 25 Oct 2021)

Pre-submission consultation by the Parish Council on their draft NPD ended on 25 October 2021.

Reg 05 Area Designation (8 May 2019)

Read the area designation documents