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:

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: 

Plans in progress

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 The original area was designated in March 2016, and is no longer in force.  

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. 

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. 

You can find out more about the Little Baddow 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.

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