Whatfield Neighbourhood Plan

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

Reg 20 Formal Adoption (2 March 2022)

In an ‘out of meeting’ decision taken on Wednesday 2 March 2022, Babergh District Council agreed to adopt ('make') the Whatfield 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.

• Read the adopted version of the Whatfield NDP
• Read the adoption Decision Statement
• See the Action out of Meeting request (this link is being updated)

Previous stages...

Local Referendum (24 Feb 2022)

A local referendum on the Whatfield NDP was held on 24 February 2022. The question asked of those entitled to vote was: 'Do you want Babergh District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Whatfield to help it decide planning applications in the Neighbourhood Plan Area?'

• See the Declaration of Results (a majority yes vote)

Reg 18 Exam Report Decision Statement (20 July 2021)

On 5 July 2021, Babergh’s Cabinet committee agreed that, subject to modification, the Whatfield NDP should proceed to a local referendum. 

• Read the Whatfield NDP R18 Decision Statement

Reg 17 Examination (Final Report - 27 April 2021)

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

On 27 April 2021, the Examiner issued her final report. It recommended that, subject to modification, the submission draft NDP met the basic condition tests and that it should proceed to a local referendum.

• Read the Whatfield NDP Exam Report (Apr 2021)
• See also the Examination Correspondence document 

Reg 16 Submission Consultation (18 Jan – 5 Mar 2021)

The submission draft Whatfield NDP was made available for public consultation between 18 January and 5 March 2021. The parish council (the qualifying body) had formally submitted the following documents:

• A Map identifying the NDP Area
• The submission draft Whatfield NDP (Dec 2020)
• A Consultation Statement
• A Basic Conditions Statement 
• Copies of the SEA and HRA Determination Notices (see further below)

An assessment on how this NDP me the basic conditions formed part of the examination. At the time of submission, our initial checks suggested that the relevant procedural requirements had been met. View 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 website. 

• Read the Reg 16 Consultation responses
• Read the Parish Council's response

Reg 14 Pre-submission Consultation (5 Aug - 7 Oct 2020)

Consultation on the pre-submission draft version of the Whatfield NDP by the Parish Council closed on 7 October 2020.

SEA/HRA Screening and Determination (Sept 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'. The relevant reports and determination notices are published below:

• Read the Whatfield NDP SEA Screening Report (LUC, Aug 2020)
• Read the Whatfield NDP SEA Determination Notice (Sept 2020)
• Read the Whatfield HRA Screening Report (Place Services, Aug 2020)
• Read the Whatfield HRA Determination Notice (Sept 2020)

Reg 05 Area Designation (18 July 2018)

• Read the Area Designation documents