Residents in Saxmundham are being invited to comment on a revised planning document that will be used to help guide future development in the area.
Developed by Saxmundham Town Council, the Saxmundham Neighbourhood Plan Review outlines the vision for the future of the town and sets out to protect and enhance the key services and facilities within it to support the needs of future generations, whilst also preserving the character of the area.
The public can have their say on the document until Wednesday 1 April, with all comments made available online following the closing date and forwarded to the Examiner who will consider them as part of the Examination of the Plan. Following this date, the plan will be submitted for independent examination.
Subject to the plan successfully completing all the relevant regulatory stages, the policies and proposals contained in the plan will be used by East Suffolk Council in the determination of planning applications within the Neighbourhood Area of Saxmundham.
Cllr Mark Packard, East Suffolk Council's cabinet member for Planning and Coastal Management, said: “We’re asking the public to get involved in this important consultation to ensure that Saxmundham’s Neighbourhood Plan establishes the appropriate planning policies that will guide future development in the town.
“While the Saxmundham Neighbourhood Development Plan was adopted as recently as July 2023, the Town Council recognised the need to update the document to ensure it remained current. The revised plan now accounts for recent boundary changes and establishes important policies which can influence the South Saxmundham Garden Neighbourhood and mitigate the impact of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) proposed in the local area.
“By taking part residents can help to shape how Saxmundham develops in years to come to ensure the final Neighbourhood Plan reflects the community’s shared vision for the town.”
The public can submit any representations online, by emailing planningpolicy@eastsuffolk.gov.uk or by sending representations by post to East Suffolk Council, Planning Policy and Delivery Team (Neighbourhood Plans), Riverside, 4 Canning Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0EQ.
All representations should be headed ‘Saxmundham Neighbourhood Plan Review’ as the subject matter. Where representations relate to a particular paragraph or policy, residents are asked to ensure that this is also clearly stated. Any representations made may include a request to be notified of East Suffolk Council’s decision whether to accept the examiner’s recommendation and future progress with the plan.
Hard copies of the document along with supporting documents are available to view during normal opening hours at Saxmundham Library, County Offices, Street Farm Road, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1AL. Anyone having difficulty accessing copies of the documents can call 01502 523029 or 01394 444557.