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Danbury Neighbourhood Plan Referendum - 12th December
Details of the referendum and examination are provided underneath the Statement below.
Statement by Danbury Parish Council 25th November 2024
We are grateful to residents bringing their comments to the meeting about the pre-application consultation on proposals for Land at Tyndales Farm. The site is proposed for allocation via the Danbury Neighbourhood Plan (NP). Now that the referendum date has been announced for the plan, Councillors will listen to your comments but must remain neutral.
A NP is an opportunity for local people to have a say in what to protect and where to build in their parish over the long term. The process is enshrined in law. Whilst land development is probably the main topic that Danbury is concerned with, the NP also considers, for example, environmental issues, transport, leisure facilities and all aspects of village life. It does not influence matters such as traffic or medical and education facilities which are covered by Essex County Council or NHS England.
The NP has been developed over a number of years with wide public consultation and although it is not intended to be overly restrictive it is a very comprehensive document setting out a vision and requirements for development that will be very important for the community, Chelmsford City Council, developers and many other interested parties. It proposes a wide range of planning policies which will help to decide all kinds of planning applications across the Parish, including the protection of important views, recreational and leisure facilities, protection for Sites of Special Scientific Interest, light pollution, building design, enhancing biodiversity and site specific policies.
Under the adopted Chelmsford City Council Local Plan, around 100 houses were allocated to Danbury to help provide new homes within the Chelmsford City area. New development is proposed across a number of areas for growth – including Danbury – to meet evidenced housing needs which include affordable homes and those for older people. These are needed as much in Danbury as they are elsewhere. Danbury is recognised as a village with a good range of local services and facilities. The NP proposes the sites for accommodating this housing, broadly identifying where new development goes in principle.
Looking specifically at the housing allocation, 21 sites were considered which was reduced to a shortlist of 8 before the final allocation of 5 sites. This process is explained in the NP and supporting documentation all of which is available on the NP website.
Sometimes a developer will carry out consultation before making a planning application – as in the case of Tyndales Farm – inviting people to make suggestions for changes or improvements which the developer can then include in the planning application.
The planning application process will set out the details of a site’s layout and what is included on the development, including the access and impact on the adjacent road network, facilities and provision of open space. The process for commenting on these matters is through the normal planning process.
The Plan has been through two rounds of formal consultation and has been subject to independent examination. No objections to the site allocations were raised by Essex County Council in relation to traffic generation or school capacity. The Examiner concluded that the NP met the Basic Conditions and other legal requirements and that its approach was entirely reasonable. In addition, it was noted that the Parish Council had chosen five acceptable sites and it was not necessary to consider other options.
The Examiner recommended the NP proceeds to referendum. If there is a simple majority the NP will be adopted by the City Council and will form part of the Chelmsford Local Plan. The referendum is separate to the planning application.
The Neighbourhood Plan referendum is for local people to vote on the whole plan, and whether collectively all the policies should be used to decide planning applications. If residents vote No to the plan, they are not only voting against this site, but against all the policies.
If more vote No than Yes, then the NP would have to go back several stages. The NP would still need to accommodate around 100 houses. The NP would then have to go back through the consultation stages, examination stage and referendum.
Whilst this is happening, planning applications can be put forward by developers to build on the sites that were put forward for consideration above. This includes the sites allocated on the draft NP. However, in determining these applications, Chelmsford City Council would not take account of the policies in the current draft NP.
If the Neighbourhood Plan was delayed, Chelmsford City Council would address the allocation of 100 houses through the next review of the Chelmsford Local Plan.
We would urge people to read the draft Neighbourhood Plan and the Examiners Report to get the full picture.
Danbury Neighbourhood Plan - Examination & Referendum
Examination - Chelmsford City Council appointed an Independent Examiner, Andrew Freeman BSc (Hons) DipTP DipEM FRTPI to examine the Danbury Neighbourhood Plan.
The examination was carried out via written representations and his report which recommends some modifications is available to read EXAMINATION REPORT
The City Council have considered the report and decided what action should be taken in response and this is contained in its Decision Statement is available HERE.
Referendum - The City Council will hold a local a referendum on Thursday 12th December 2024 within the Neighbourhood Area on the Danbury Neighbourhood Plan to decide the question below:
Do you want Chelmsford City Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Danbury to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?
The result of the referendum will be announced on Friday 13th December 2024. If the majority of voters support the plan, the plan will be ‘made’ by the Council and will form part of the Chelmsford Local Plan.
The referendum documents and more information how you can vote is available HERE.
You can also view the documents at:
Response to residents’ recent comments.
We don’t need 100 houses in Danbury as there is a lot of development in the surrounding area including Maldon & Heybridge, Bicknacre, and the proposed Hammonds Farm development.
The allocation of around 100 houses is to help provide new homes within the Chelmsford City area. New development is proposed across a number of areas for growth – including Danbury – to meet evidenced housing needs which include affordable homes and those for older people. Danbury is recognised as a village with a good range of local services and facilities. Locations for future development are limited by landscape, ecology and highway constraints, but the evidence documents supporting the DNP show that the selected sites are sustainable and can be delivered.
The supporting documents can be found HERE
Facilities such as the medical centre and schools are already at capacity.
The City Council works closely with infrastructure providers to collect financial contributions from developers of new housing, which are used towards new or expanded services such as medical and education facilities.
What are the benefits of the DNP and why is it important to vote?
The Neighbourhood Plan proposes a wide range of planning policies which will help to decide all kinds of planning applications across the Parish, including the protection of important views, recreational and leisure facilities, protection for Sites of Special Scientific Interest, light pollution, building design, and enhancing biodiversity. The NP also proposes sites for housing, broadly identifying where new development goes in principle.
The referendum is separate to the planning application process which will set out the details of a site’s layout and what is included on the development. The process for commenting on these is through the normal planning process. Sometimes a developer will carry out consultation before making a planning application, inviting people to make suggestions for changes or improvements which the developer can then include in the planning application.
The NP referendum is for local people to vote on the whole plan, and whether collectively the policies should be used to decide planning applications.
VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM ON 12TH DECEMBER 2024
Details of the referendum and examination are provided underneath the Statement below.
Statement by Danbury Parish Council 25th November 2024
We are grateful to residents bringing their comments to the meeting about the pre-application consultation on proposals for Land at Tyndales Farm. The site is proposed for allocation via the Danbury Neighbourhood Plan (NP). Now that the referendum date has been announced for the plan, Councillors will listen to your comments but must remain neutral.
A NP is an opportunity for local people to have a say in what to protect and where to build in their parish over the long term. The process is enshrined in law. Whilst land development is probably the main topic that Danbury is concerned with, the NP also considers, for example, environmental issues, transport, leisure facilities and all aspects of village life. It does not influence matters such as traffic or medical and education facilities which are covered by Essex County Council or NHS England.
The NP has been developed over a number of years with wide public consultation and although it is not intended to be overly restrictive it is a very comprehensive document setting out a vision and requirements for development that will be very important for the community, Chelmsford City Council, developers and many other interested parties. It proposes a wide range of planning policies which will help to decide all kinds of planning applications across the Parish, including the protection of important views, recreational and leisure facilities, protection for Sites of Special Scientific Interest, light pollution, building design, enhancing biodiversity and site specific policies.
Under the adopted Chelmsford City Council Local Plan, around 100 houses were allocated to Danbury to help provide new homes within the Chelmsford City area. New development is proposed across a number of areas for growth – including Danbury – to meet evidenced housing needs which include affordable homes and those for older people. These are needed as much in Danbury as they are elsewhere. Danbury is recognised as a village with a good range of local services and facilities. The NP proposes the sites for accommodating this housing, broadly identifying where new development goes in principle.
Looking specifically at the housing allocation, 21 sites were considered which was reduced to a shortlist of 8 before the final allocation of 5 sites. This process is explained in the NP and supporting documentation all of which is available on the NP website.
Sometimes a developer will carry out consultation before making a planning application – as in the case of Tyndales Farm – inviting people to make suggestions for changes or improvements which the developer can then include in the planning application.
The planning application process will set out the details of a site’s layout and what is included on the development, including the access and impact on the adjacent road network, facilities and provision of open space. The process for commenting on these matters is through the normal planning process.
The Plan has been through two rounds of formal consultation and has been subject to independent examination. No objections to the site allocations were raised by Essex County Council in relation to traffic generation or school capacity. The Examiner concluded that the NP met the Basic Conditions and other legal requirements and that its approach was entirely reasonable. In addition, it was noted that the Parish Council had chosen five acceptable sites and it was not necessary to consider other options.
The Examiner recommended the NP proceeds to referendum. If there is a simple majority the NP will be adopted by the City Council and will form part of the Chelmsford Local Plan. The referendum is separate to the planning application.
The Neighbourhood Plan referendum is for local people to vote on the whole plan, and whether collectively all the policies should be used to decide planning applications. If residents vote No to the plan, they are not only voting against this site, but against all the policies.
If more vote No than Yes, then the NP would have to go back several stages. The NP would still need to accommodate around 100 houses. The NP would then have to go back through the consultation stages, examination stage and referendum.
Whilst this is happening, planning applications can be put forward by developers to build on the sites that were put forward for consideration above. This includes the sites allocated on the draft NP. However, in determining these applications, Chelmsford City Council would not take account of the policies in the current draft NP.
If the Neighbourhood Plan was delayed, Chelmsford City Council would address the allocation of 100 houses through the next review of the Chelmsford Local Plan.
We would urge people to read the draft Neighbourhood Plan and the Examiners Report to get the full picture.
Danbury Neighbourhood Plan - Examination & Referendum
Examination - Chelmsford City Council appointed an Independent Examiner, Andrew Freeman BSc (Hons) DipTP DipEM FRTPI to examine the Danbury Neighbourhood Plan.
The examination was carried out via written representations and his report which recommends some modifications is available to read EXAMINATION REPORT
The City Council have considered the report and decided what action should be taken in response and this is contained in its Decision Statement is available HERE.
Referendum - The City Council will hold a local a referendum on Thursday 12th December 2024 within the Neighbourhood Area on the Danbury Neighbourhood Plan to decide the question below:
Do you want Chelmsford City Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Danbury to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?
The result of the referendum will be announced on Friday 13th December 2024. If the majority of voters support the plan, the plan will be ‘made’ by the Council and will form part of the Chelmsford Local Plan.
The referendum documents and more information how you can vote is available HERE.
You can also view the documents at:
- Danbury Parish Council, The Old School House, Main Road, Danbury, Chelmsford CM3 4NQ. (You can contact the Parish Council on 01245 225111 for opening times.)
Response to residents’ recent comments.
We don’t need 100 houses in Danbury as there is a lot of development in the surrounding area including Maldon & Heybridge, Bicknacre, and the proposed Hammonds Farm development.
The allocation of around 100 houses is to help provide new homes within the Chelmsford City area. New development is proposed across a number of areas for growth – including Danbury – to meet evidenced housing needs which include affordable homes and those for older people. Danbury is recognised as a village with a good range of local services and facilities. Locations for future development are limited by landscape, ecology and highway constraints, but the evidence documents supporting the DNP show that the selected sites are sustainable and can be delivered.
The supporting documents can be found HERE
Facilities such as the medical centre and schools are already at capacity.
The City Council works closely with infrastructure providers to collect financial contributions from developers of new housing, which are used towards new or expanded services such as medical and education facilities.
What are the benefits of the DNP and why is it important to vote?
The Neighbourhood Plan proposes a wide range of planning policies which will help to decide all kinds of planning applications across the Parish, including the protection of important views, recreational and leisure facilities, protection for Sites of Special Scientific Interest, light pollution, building design, and enhancing biodiversity. The NP also proposes sites for housing, broadly identifying where new development goes in principle.
The referendum is separate to the planning application process which will set out the details of a site’s layout and what is included on the development. The process for commenting on these is through the normal planning process. Sometimes a developer will carry out consultation before making a planning application, inviting people to make suggestions for changes or improvements which the developer can then include in the planning application.
The NP referendum is for local people to vote on the whole plan, and whether collectively the policies should be used to decide planning applications.
VOTE IN THE REFERENDUM ON 12TH DECEMBER 2024
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