Neighbourhood Planning in Wickhambrook

Wickhambrook Neighbourhood Plan Submission Draft (Regulation 16) consultation - Tuesday 8 April (9am) to Friday 23 May (5pm) 2025

West Suffolk Council received the submission version of the Wickhambrook Neighbourhood Plan and accompanying documents. The council has assessed the plan in accordance with the relevant legislation and have approved receipt.

We are keen to hear the views of people who live, work and carry out business in the area. Responses should focus on whether the plan proposal is appropriate to be used for the Wickhambrook Neighbourhood Plan.

We have commenced a six week consultation on Tuesday 8 April 2025. The Wickhambrook Neighbourhood Plan Submission Document can be viewed and responded to via the council's online consultation system.

Wickhambrook Neighbourhood Plan Regulation 16 Submission Draft
Wickhambrook Neighbourhood Plan Policies Map
Wickhambrook Neighbourhood Plan Strategic Enviroment Assessment
Wickhambrook Neighbourhood Plan Habitats Regulations Assessment

The plan is supported by a number of evidence documents, including the basic conditions statement and consultation statement, which can be viewed on the council's online consultation system.

Supporting documents

Basic conditions statement (2025)
Consultation statement (2025)
Strategic environmental assessment and habitats regulations assessment screening opinion (2024)
Site landscape appraisal (2023)
Site master planning (2023)
Local green spaces assessment (2023)
Design guidance and codes (2022)
Household survey summary results (2022)
Housing need survey report (2022)

What can be commented on?

Comments are invited regarding whether the 'plan proposal' fulfils the 'basic conditions' (Paragraph 8, Schedule 4B Town and Country Planning Act (as amended))

The 'basic conditions'

Representations received under regulation 16 regarding the plan proposal will be forwarded to an independent examiner, who will assess the Ixworth and Ixworth Thorpe Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents against 'basic conditions'. These require that the plan:

Has regard to national policy and guidance from the Secretary of State.
Contributes to sustainable development.
Is in general conformity with the strategic policy of the development plan for the area of any part of that area.
Does not breach or is otherwise compatible with EU obligations - this includes the SEA Directive of 2001/42/EC.
The making of the neighbourhood plan is not likely to have significant effect on a European site (as defined in the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (d)), either alone or in combinations with other plans and projects.

How to comment on the proposed submission plan

Please submit your comments by 5pm on Friday 23 May 2025 by using the council's online consultation system or via email to neighbourhood.planning@westsuffolk.gov.uk. Comments cannot be accepted if anonymous. All information received is public information (subject to the General Data Protection Regulations)

Where are the documents available

The documents are available for inspection online via the council's online consultation system and hard copies are available to view at the following location:

West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)
Mildenhall Hub, Sheldrick Way, Mildenhall, Suffolk IP28 7JX (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)

What happens next?

We are working with Wickhambrook Parish Council to appoint an independent examiner who will make recommendations and their report will be published online in due course.

Once the council has received this report, and reviewed whether modifications are required, it can decide that the plan is ready for a referendum. (Further details can be found under the summary of the key stages in neighbourhood plan at steps 4 to 7)

Strategic environmental assessment and habitats regulations assessment screening opinion: Wickhambrook Neighbourhood Plan

The strategic environmental assessment and habitats regulations assessment screening opinion for the Wickhambrook Neighbourhood Plan is now available to view.

As part of the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 and Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2015 (as amended), Wickhambrook Parish Council published the pre-submission draft of the Wickhambrook Neighbourhood Plan for consultation from 4 November to 22 December 2023. The document can be viewed on the Wickhambrook Parish Council Website.

Wickhambrook Neighbourhood Area Designation

Due to change in the Wickhambrook Parish Boundary following a community governance review, on 3 April 2023, Wickhambrook Parish Council submitted a new application to define the revised boundary of their neighbourhood plan. The regulations regarding neighbourhood area applications have changed and there is no longer a requirement for publicity if the application is for the whole parish area - as it is in this instance.

Under the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended), the council confirmed the designated area on 3 April 2023.

A designation statement to this effect, a copy of the application and supporting information and a map identifying the neighbourhood area can be viewed below (which supersedes the previous area designation approved in October 2021):

On 1 October 2021 Wickhambrook Parish Council submitted an application to define the boundary of its neighbourhood plan. The regulations regarding neighbourhood area applications changed and there is no longer a requirement for publicity if the application is for the whole parish area, as it is in this instance.

Under the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended), the council has confirmed the designated area on 4 October 2021.