East Suffolk Council
Residents to vote on neighbourhood plans
Residents in both Rushmere St Andrew and Shadingfield, Sotterley, Willingham and Ellough will be asked to decide whether Neighbourhood Plans for their areas should be used to determine future planning applications.
The Rushmere St Andrew Neighbourhood Plan was prepared by Rushmere St Andrew Parish Council. It contains a vision for the future of Rushmere St Andrew and sets out clear planning policies to 2036.
The plan will be used by East Suffolk Council to help make planning decisions in the parish. It includes policies covering the protection of landscape and important views, the protection of natural features, the protection of settlement gaps, protection of local green spaces, the protection of the village’s heritage, encouraging good design, protecting parish services and facilities, protecting sports and leisure facilities, and protecting public rights of way.
The Shadingfield, Sotterley, Willingham and Ellough Neighbourhood Plan was developed by Shadingfield, Sotterley, Willingham and Ellough Parish Council. It will also be used by East Suffolk Council to help make planning decisions in the parish.
The plan includes policies covering the protection of the historic and natural environment, promoting renewable and low carbon energy, policies for new housing developments and rural tourism accommodation, protecting community facilities, promoting safe and sustainable transport and the provision of new business and employment premises.
Residents of both areas will be invited to vote in referendums for their respective Neighbourhood Plans on Thursday 4 May.
When finalised, the Neighbourhood Plans will act as guides to development in both areas and will be required to be used by anyone making or deciding a planning application.
Both plans have been through public consultations last year 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 4 May and will ask residents to vote on whether East Suffolk Council should use the Shadingfield, Sotterley, Willingham and Ellough Neighbourhood Plan to help determine planning applications in the neighbourhood area, and whether East Suffolk Council should use the Rushmere St Andrew Neighbourhood Plan to help determine planning applications in the Rushmere St Andrew neighbourhood area.
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 is available on the elections page of this website.
For more information about the Neighbourhood Plans, including the examiner's reports and the information on the referendums, please visit the neighbourhood planning page of this website.
Copies of the Shadingfield, Sotterley, Willingham and Ellough Neighbourhood Plan and information on the referendum is also available to view at Beccles Library or the Council’s Marina Customer Services Centre in Lowestoft.
Copies of the Rushmere St Andrew Neighbourhood Plan and information on the referendum can be viewed at Kesgrave Library, the council’s Customer Services Centre at Woodbridge Library and the Rushmere St Andrew Parish Council offices by appointment (please contact Sylvia Stannard on 01473 711509 or email sylvia.stannard@rushmere-st-andrew.org.uk).
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.