Sent on behalf of Philip Isbell, Acting Director of Planning, and Cllr Andrew Stringer, Mid Suffolk cabinet member for Heritage, Planning and Infrastructure

Towns and parishes were invited to briefings on Friday 21st March 2025 to discuss the impact of the Government’s new housing requirements on both districts.

In summary, they wanted to explain in more detail what the new Government housing targets meant for us here in Babergh and Mid Suffolk, and the steps both district councils are taking as a result.

The briefing pack which was shared is available to download, including: 

• Details of the Government’s new housing requirements for Mid Suffolk and Babergh, why this has led us to review our Joint Local Plan, plus the timetable for the review.
• Indicative figures for what the Government’s new housing requirements could mean at town and parish level – it must be stressed the figures are indicative and subject to many caveats, but it is important to identify the level of challenge as early as possible.
• The importance of Neighbourhood Plans and what support is available to help develop one.

The Government’s new requirements are extremely challenging. They wanted the information shared to help start conversations about how our communities could and should develop.

To download the pack please use this link.

Over the course of 2025, Thurston Parish Council will need to review its adopted Neighbourhood Development Plan first adopted in 2019 in light of the new housing requirements (which are indicative only) and amendments to the National Planning Policy Framework. 

The review of a Neighbourhood Plan is time and resource intensive as there are a number of a regulatory processes to follow to ensure that the plan complies with statutory tests. Depending upon the level of update required, it might be that minor alterations can be made by Mid Suffolk as the Local Planning Authority. If the changes are of a more substantive update that materially affects the policies, then the modified plan will need to go back through consultation, examination and possibly referendum again.

Over the coming months, the parish council will commence a review of the evidence base and policies to determine what is still up-to-date and what will require updating. There will also be a need to ascertain whether entirely new policies need to be incorporated which will require new evidence gathering, engagement and consultation.