Written by Nikki O’Hagan, 17th October 2024

The Ardleigh Neighbourhood Plan is adopted in September 2024

Almost exactly 2 years ago, we informed you that Ardleigh’s Neighbourhood Plan was nearing its final stages. Click the button below to read our previous, 2022 update on the Ardleigh Neighbourhood Plan.

2 years on and we’re delighted to announce that the Ardleigh Neighbourhood Plan was “made” (adopted) on 13th September 2024.

An overview of the Neighbourhood Plan process

Planning Direct has worked closely alongside Ardleigh Parish Council to create their first Neighbourhood Plan. With Planning Direct’s guidance, the Parish Council consulted with the local community to decide what themes and aims the Plan should include. Planning Direct’s Nikki O’Hagan then set about drafting the Neighbourhood Plan and its policies in order to address those themes and achieve those aims.

The first draft of the Neighbourhood Plan was completed in August 2022. Following another round of consultation with the local community, the next draft of the Plan was submitted to Tendring District Council for their consideration in January 2023. Tendring District Council requested only a few minor changes to the Plan which were promptly made. The District Council then carried out another round of public consultation – a statutory requirement – in the spring/summer of 2023. Following this, the District Council appointed an Examiner to inspect the Plan. The Examination continued into 2024. The Examiner concluded that the Neighbourhood Plan was broadly sound and requested only a few minor alterations which the Parish Council was happy to accept. The final, Examiner-approved version of the Neighbourhood Plan was subsequently completed in May 2024.

The referendum

The next and final stage in the Plan preparation process would be the local referendum. This is a statutory requirement that applies to all Neighbourhood Plans that pass examination. Unfortunately for Ardleigh, the proposed date of their local referendum coincided with the date of the 2024 General Election and the District Council decided that it would have to be postponed. The referendum eventually took place on 12th September 2024. In the referendum, local residents were asked a simple question:

“Do you want TENDRING DISTRICT COUNCIL to use the Neighbourhood Plan for THE PARISH OF ARDLEIGH to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”

In order for a Neighbourhood Plan to be adopted, the referendum must return a majority “yes” vote (51%). The local response to Ardleigh’s Neighbourhood Plan was overwhelmingly positive, with a majority “yes” vote of 86.5%.

The Ardleigh Neighbourhood Plan was formally adopted on 13th September 2024 and now forms part of the Development Plan for Ardleigh. Developers and homeowners in Ardleigh are consequently expected to consider and adhere to the policies of the Neighbourhood Plan. Planning applications that conflict with a Neighbourhood Plan policy should be refused, unless “material planning considerations” indicate otherwise.

What will the Ardleigh Neighbourhood Plan achieve?

Planning Direct is delighted with this result and expects that the Ardleigh Neighbourhood Plan will empower the Parish Council and local community to resist development that would negatively impact Ardleigh whilst enabling, at the same time, development that would benefit it.

Stopping the bad

In particular, the Neighbourhood Plan provides additional protections against developments that would:

• Cause harm to the character of the parish’s rural areas, including as a result of its scale or type.
• Result in the loss or closure of existing community facilities, such as the GP Surgery and Primary School.
• Be poorly designed. For example, the Neighbourhood Plan requires the design of all new development to take account of the Village Design Statement. The Village Design Statement contains detailed design requirements covering everything from architectural style to materials and landscaping/boundary treatments.
• Negatively affect a Local Green Space. Planning Direct worked closely alongside the Parish Council and local community to identify a range of particularly cherished Local Green Spaces – 10 in total – which have been given additional protection by the Neighbourhood Plan.
• Exacerbate existing transport, congestion and parking issues in the parish or that would fail to provide adequate, well-designed parking.
• Involve the permanent loss of “best and most versatile” agricultural land.

Supporting the good

The Neighbourhood Plan will equally empower the local community to support and approve developments that would benefit them, including:

• Modest developments in the rural area that would support appropriate rural businesses.
• Replacement dwellings in the rural area where this would improve the site’s energy efficiency/sustainability and enhance local character.
• New or improved community facilities, especially sports and leisure facilities and independent local businesses.
• Highly accessibly, sustainable and safe new houses, with preference shown to affordable and smaller homes.
• “Granny annexes” within the gardens of existing houses to support local families to stay together and provide care for family members in need.

Final thoughts

It’s been a long road for Ardleigh but ultimately a worthy one. Because of the parish’s good road access and proximity to the City of Colchester, it has found itself increasingly vulnerable to large-scale and inappropriate development in recent years, both residential and commercial. The Neighbourhood Plan will return some much needed control over development to the local community, enabling them to advocate for themselves. The Neighbourhood Plan is expected to remain in force until at least 2033.

Planning Direct is very pleased to have played a key role in this process and would like to commend Ardleigh Parish Council for their dedication and perseverance.

Are you contemplating the creation of a Neighbourhood Plan in your local area? Contact us today to find out how Planning Direct could support you to achieve this. Our initial advice is always free of charge.

For some impartial guidance on the Neighbourhood Planning process, you can also contact Locality. You may even be entitled to government grants and financial support. Click the button below to find out more.