The final stage of consultation on the Uttlesford Local Plan opens today and will run for eight weeks to 3rd October. Consultation responses will be collated, packaged and sent with the published Plan to the Planning Inspectorate. This gives the plan what is termed ‘legal weight’ and takes it forward to be examined in public in front of a planning inspector, which should happen by mid-2025.
The last Local Plan was made in 2005 and as a consequence of several failed attempts at a new Plan Uttlesford has been subject to aggressive speculative development, so much so that more than half the district’s housing target for the period 2021 to 2041 has already been built or given planning permission. You can see a potted history of planning and development in Uttlesford here.
The importance of arriving at what is known as Reg19 cannot be overstated. The district desperately needs to take control of its future rather than have it imposed upon us.
The timing of achieving Reg19 has also proved critical. By coincidence, on the same day the council voted to approve the Plan to go forward, the new government announced its intention to make substantial changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and to make these changes effective by the year end. Fortunately, as UDC has reached Reg19 within the allotted timeframe we qualify for transitional relief and are able to continue with our plan under existing NPPF rules and based on our current housing target, rather than the govt’s new targets. Though at some point the Uttlesford plan will have to fall in line with the new requirements.
In some ways we are in a ‘good’ position because the Uttlesford Local Plan contains policies that provide significant future proofing on topics such as social housing, climate change and ensuring early years education – areas where the new government has declared ambitions. Hopefully there will be no shocks for Uttlesford when the new planning rules percolate into everyday operation.
Reg19 consultation
If you responded to the consultation at the end of 2023 you may also wish to respond at this final stage, but there is no obligation on you to do so. Equally you may wish to respond now even though you did not do so previously. Here are several important considerations:
• The Plan has changed since the first (Reg18) draft was published. Major and minor changes have been made in response to the views expressed by residents in that consultation.
• Responses made now will be sent to the Planning Inspectorate when the Plan is submitted for examination. Those made earlier are not sent as they were part of the drafting process.
• From here on, the Plan will be measured by its ‘soundness’ – in other words, how it complies with legislation and the NPPF – so to be effective responses to this consultation need to be evidence based. Simply expressing an opinion is of little value if it is not evidenced.
• If you wish to make personal representations when the Plan is examined in public in front of the Planning Inspector you must first have made a written response as part of the Reg19 consultation.
The easiest way to read the draft plan and to provide feedback is via the UDC website here.
Paper copies of the plan will be available to view at the district council’s offices in Saffron Walden and at local libraries. Parish councils will also be provided with copies and a briefing to be able to assist members of the public.
As well as commenting online, responses to the consultation can be submitted by email or post using a form which is available from the district council and local libraries. Responses should be sent by email to: localplan@uttlesford.gov.uk or by post to: Local Plan Team, Uttlesford District Council, London Road, Saffron Walden CB11 4ER.