East Suffolk Council
Residents to vote on Neighbourhood Plans
Residents in both Playford and Easton will be asked to decide whether Neighbourhood Plans for their areas should be used to determine future planning applications.
The Playford Neighbourhood Plan, prepared by Playford Parish Council, contains a vision for the future of Playford and sets out clear planning policies to 2036. The plan includes policies about development clusters, landscape protection, the protection of important views and natural landscape features, non-designated heritage assets, design considerations, artificial lighting, parish services and facilities and public rights of way.
The Easton Neighbourhood Plan was developed by Easton Parish Council and will be used by East Suffolk Council to help make planning decisions in the parish. The plan sets out a vision and objectives for future development in Easton and includes policies about housing (including a development allocation), the conversion of buildings to dwellings, dark skies, landscape character and important views, mitigating the impact of recreation, biodiversity and habitats, local green spaces, non-designated heritage assets, design considerations and village services and facilities.
When finalised, the Neighbourhood Plans will act as guides to development in Playford and Easton and will be required to be used by anyone making or deciding a planning application. The Neighbourhood Plans also enable the Parish Councils to receive 25% rather than 15% of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) collected from new development within their parishes.
Both plans have been through public consultations and an independent examination. The examinations found the plans meet all legal requirements, subject to some modifications.
As a result, East Suffolk Council has concluded that the Neighbourhood Plans should proceed to referendums. The referendums will take place on Thursday 13 June and will ask residents to vote on whether East Suffolk Council should use the Playford Neighbourhood Plan to help determine planning applications in the neighbourhood area, and whether East Suffolk Council should use the Easton Neighbourhood Plan to help determine planning applications in the Easton neighbourhood area.
Ben Woolnough, Head of Planning, Building Control and Coastal Management at East Suffolk Council said: “Neighbourhood planning enables residents to get directly involved in the future of their town or village, shaping where new development should be, providing guidance for what new developments should look like and establishing the local infrastructure priorities. I would encourage residents in Playford and Easton to ensure they are registered to vote so they can take part in their respective referendum on 13 June.”
Residents living in the relevant neighbourhood areas and who are registered to vote can vote in the referendum. Photo identification is not required to vote in these elections.
More information about the Neighbourhood Plans, including the examiner's reports and the information on the referendums.
Copies of the Playford Neighbourhood Plan and information on the referendum is also available to view at Kesgrave and Woodbridge Libraries.
Copies of the Easton Neighbourhood Plan and information on the referendum can be viewed at Wickham Market and Woodbridge Libraries.
If you have any questions about the Neighbourhood Plans, please call 01394 444557, email planningpolicy@eastsuffolk.gov.uk or write to East Suffolk Council, Planning Policy and Delivery Team (Neighbourhood Plans), Riverside, 4 Canning Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0EQ.