Neighbourhood Plans and Village Design Statements
Town and parish councils, or other organisations, can take the lead in creating neighbourhood development plans, community plans and orders for planning in their area. We will help to create the plans, and make decisions at key stages.
Neighbourhood development plans, and other community plans or orders can become part of the Local Plan, with equal legal status. Before we can adopt the plan or order, a local referendum needs to take place to agree it.
A neighbourhood development plan is a planning document which sets out policies for development and use of land in a neighbourhood. They are normally known as neighbourhood plans. The plans can include the location of new homes and offices, and what they should look like.
If you want to develop a plan or statement, you can contact us to discuss which option would be best for your area.
Locality offers a wide range of information about the process and grant funding options, including toolkits, case studies, and a forum.
You can also look at our Statement of Community Involvement to find out how local communities can get involved in planning.
There are currently eight neighbourhood plans in development in the Chelmsford area. You can view the application and map for each one and also visit their websites.
Made plans (also known as adopted plans)
South Woodham Ferrers
Made (or adopted) on 8 December 2021
We held a referendum on the South Woodham Ferrers Neighbourhood Plan in October 2021. The result was 73% of voters were in favour of us using the neighbourhood plan for South Woodham Ferrers to help decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.
The Plan was made (or adopted) by Full Council at its meeting on 8 December 2021.
You can:
- download the South Woodham Ferrers Neighbourhood Plan
- read the SWF Adoption Statement
- visit the South Woodham Ferrers Neighbourhood Plan website
Writtle
Made (or adopted) on 8 December 2021
We held a referendum on the Writtle Neighbourhood Plan in October 2021. The result was 93% of voters were in favour of us using the neighbourhood plan for Writtle to help decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.
The Plan was made (or adopted) made by Full Council at its meeting on 8 December 2021.
You can:
- download the Writtle Neighbourhood Plan
- read the Writtle Adoption Statement
- visit the Writtle Neighbourhood Plan website
Plans in progress
- Boreham
Designated on 11 January 2017
Visit the Boreham Parish Council website
- Broomfield
Designated on 12 July 2022
Visit the Broomfield Neighbourhood Plan website
We have designated a new Neighbourhood Plan area for Broomfield, to align with forthcoming changes to the Broomfield parish boundary. The original area was designated in March 2016, and is no longer in force.
- Danbury
Designated on 9 March 2016
Visit the Danbury Neighbourhood Plan website
Danbury Neighbourhood Plan: Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening Report
The Danbury draft Neighbourhood Plan is open for consultation until Wednesday 15 March 2023. This is called a Regulation 14 consultation. You can find out more about the Danbury Neighbourhood Plan.
- East Hanningfield
Designated on 24 September 2019
Visit the East Hanningfield Parish Council website
- Little Baddow
Designated on 6 January 2017
Visit the Little Baddow Neighbourhood Plan website
Little Baddow Neighbourhood Plan: Strategic Environmental and Habitats Regulations Assessments Screening Report
A draft Neighbourhood Plan for Little Baddow has been formally submitted to us, which proposes local planning policies for Little Baddow Parish. Once adopted, it will become part of Chelmsford’s Local Plan.
We have appointed an Independent Examiner to examine the Little Baddow Neighbourhood Plan. The Examiner is Andrew Mead BSc (Hons) MRTPI MIQ.
We have sent all the Submission Documents and the comments we received to the Regulation 16 Consultation to the Examiner, who will decide whether the Little Baddow Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to referendum.
You can find out more about the Little Baddow Neighbourhood Plan.
- Sandon
Designated on 31 October 2017
Visit the Sandon Neighbourhood Development Plan website
Sandon Neighbourhood Plan: Strategic Environmental and Habitats Regulations Assessments Screening Report
You can find out more about the Sandon Neighbourhood Plan.
A Neighbourhood Development Order allows town and parish councils, or other organisations, to grant planning permission for certain developments, including:
- house extensions in a defined area
- changes of use
- development on a particular site
We will not be involved in the planning application process for these types of development.
However, a Neighbourhood Development Order does not include planning applications relating to:
- minerals and waste
- some environmental projects
- national infrastructure
A Community Right to Build Order gives the community the ability to grant planning permission for certain developments through a referendum.
Community Right to Build Orders are for small scale developments in neighbourhoods, including housing and community facilities.
A Village Design Statement offers informal guidance about the character of a village and its surroundings, and what makes it different.
Although a Village Design Statement does not stop development, it makes sure that new developments or changes fit in with the local context.
Parish councils can prepare Village Design Statements for their local area, and submit them to us.
We have adopted many of the Village Design Statements as informal guidance, and some as part of the Local Plan.
When we consider planning applications, we take the Village Design Statement for the area into account before making a decision.
You can download and view of all the current Village Design Statements for the Chelmsford area.