We began scoping the content of the plan
We undertook a scoping consultation from 16 June to 28 July 2026 asking local communities what the plan should contain. This has helped to identify priorities for the new local plan.
Scoping also includes considering how well the existing plan is working and gathering baseline information about the area. As part of our scoping consultation, we published baseline social, environmental and economic characteristics of West Suffolk to inform our future needs and ambitions.
Using information we have gathered from the scoping consultation and with the input from our decision makers we have begun to shape a vision for West Suffolk. We will consult local communities on a draft vision and objectives at the next consultation stage in 2027.
To gain an understanding of the development needs of the area we have looked at the evidence we need for the plan. We are also working jointly with the Suffolk Local Authorities to prepare a range of Suffolk wide evidence to understand development needs of the wider area. New evidence will include:
- Housing and employment needs
- retail and town centre uses
- open space and sports facilities.
New evidence studies will be available on our website as they are completed.
We are starting to look at high level options for the future distribution of development in the area including early engagement with communities at the scoping stage. We will undertake further work to identify housing and employment development distribution options to be consulted on at the next stage in 2027.
We are also looking at what new site and/or area specific planning policies we may need for decision making on development proposals.
Forward to Progressing the strategic environmental assessment (SEA)