Plan for over 13,000 new homes across West Suffolk could be approved next week
West Suffolk's local plan sets out where new homes will be built over the next 15-20 years
Last updated 28th Nov 2023
West Suffolk’s Local Plan, which promises to deliver over 13,000 homes, will be discussed by the cabinet next week.
The Local Plan is the document outlining planning policies, guidance, and proposals for new developments within the district.
The cabinet’s discussion next Tuesday will determine planning policies and allocations for the growth of the district until 2040.
Cllr Jim Thorndyke, cabinet member for planning, said: “Our communities and populations are growing — as people’s children or grandchildren grow up, they will need a place to live.
“The local plan will also ensure a good supply of housing to meet predicted housing and employment growth in West Suffolk.”
This will include the allocation of new sites for 5,343 new homes as well as 9,245 which have already secured planning permission — totalling 14,588 possible new homes.
Although the plan deliberately over-allocates sites for new homes, considering some will never come forward, residents can expect a minimum of 13,702 to be built for the duration of the document.
On top of this, the document also sets out provision for 86ha for employment growth — 24 of which are new allocations.
Cllr Thorndyke added: “This is important not only in terms of providing land to expand for existing businesses helping retain jobs in our area, but also to encourage the growth of new businesses and attract others to our area all for the benefit of our local economy.”
The current draft of the plan follows two rounds of public consultation in 2020 and 2022 respectively and, should it be approved by the cabinet next week, and by the full council on December 19, it will enter the final stage of consultation when the plan will be put to a legal test.
This consultation is scheduled to take place between January 30 and March 5 next year, before it is submitted to the Secretary of State.
Should the cabinet approve that the draft be recommended to the full council, it will mean it considers the current plan to be final.
Cllr Thorndyke said he was happy with the current document and believed the cabinet had put a strong and robust plan forward.