Castle Point Plan Consultation delayed by new Planning Policy framework
Castle Point Borough Council has today (21 January 2025) announced that the introduction of the Government’s new planning policy framework has caused an unavoidable delay to the start of the Castle Point Plan Regulation 19 consultation – the stage at which the local plan is set out in law.
Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning Warren Gibson said, “We started making the Castle Point Plan in November 2022. The objective at that time was to engage with residents to prepare a plan that was right for the borough, met genuine locally identified need, ensured that development took place on brownfield and urban land first and sought to protect the green belt. This remains the case.
“The Issues and Options report published and consulted on between July and September 2024 both took account of national policy and set out options for how our intended objectives could be achieved. The preparation of the draft plan for the next stage – the formal Regulation 19 consultation on the draft plan and the submission for examination – is well advanced.
“However, in December 2024 the Government published a new national planning policy framework. Although most of the framework has not changed, critically the Government introduced new mandatory housing targets and new Green Belt policies. This means that the Council must prove whether it can or cannot achieve the new mandatory housing targets within the borough, and, if not, whether any unmet need can be accommodated outside of the borough.
“In addition, the Council must undertake a review of the Green Belt, and identify whether any land currently identified as ‘Green Belt’, is, in fact, suitable as ‘Grey Belt’ and therefore suitable for development. In order to meet these new requirements, and ensure that the plan stands the best chance of being found sound, the decision on the Regulation 19 Plan will be delayed until March 2025, and then consulted on.
“This Administration remains fully committed to getting the right Local Plan in place for our Borough.”
The Castle Point Local Plan will now be discussed at Council on 26 March 2025, with consultation running from 4 April to 23 May 2025.