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Local Plan further Main Modifications – Your opportunity to comment.
The consultation on the further Main Modifications to the emerging Epping Forest District Local Plan closed at 5pm on 9 December 2022.
Consultation on the proposed further changes (known as ‘further main modifications’) to Epping Forest District’s emerging Local Plan starts on Friday 28 October. The consultation will run for 6 weeks closing on 9 December, with all responses going to the government-appointed inspector that is examining the plan.
Details of the consultation will be available on the Local Plan website, including the schedule of proposed modifications, supporting documents and an online response form. Paper copies will also be available from the Civic Offices in Epping and libraries across the district.
6 weeks to have your say
Epping Forest District Council’s cabinet portfolio holder responsible for planning policy, Councillor Nigel Bedford said:
We need to be clear that the consultation relates solely to the further main modifications to the emerging plan, which have not been consulted upon before. The planning inspector will not consider responses on parts of the plan that are not subject to further change.
The further main modifications include limited changes to some of the supporting text and policies within the plan and changes to reflect updated housing supply data to March 2022. The overall housing requirement of 11,400 new homes across the plan period 2011 to 2033 remains the same.
I am encouraging everyone with an interest in planning, and particularly those that have followed the plan’s examination, to take a look at the consultation. You have 6 weeks to have your say. Please confine your responses to the further changes which are clearly indicated.
The Council will publish all the responses online and collate for the inspector’s review. This has been a long and rigorous process but I am very optimistic. The end of the process is in sight and the formal adoption of the Local Plan is only a short time away.
What is the Local Plan?
The Local Plan is a district-wide plan which identifies the vision and aspirations for the future of the area. The planning policies, and allocations in the plan identify sites or areas which can be developed and those which should be protected.
- The Local Plan will help shape future development in the district up to 2033. It sets out the level and distribution of planned growth, including new homes and employment land
- The Plan includes policies which will be used to assess planning applications, ensuring new development is sustainable, well designed and provides for the future needs of the district
- Once finalised and adopted, the Local Plan will become the statutory (legal) development plan for the Epping Forest district
What happens to the consultation responses?
Responses to the consultation will be sent to the independent government-appointed inspector. Once the inspector has considered the responses, including the evidence presented throughout the duration of the examination, he will determine whether the Local Plan is ‘sound’ and make his final recommendations to the Secretary of State. Only once the plan has received ministerial approval can it then be adopted by the Council.
Personal information such as contact details and addresses will be removed from consultation responses before they are published for everyone to read on the Council’s Local Plan website.
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