Councillors have welcomed a decision by Planning Inspectors to allow work on their Joint Local Plan to continue – meaning Babergh can ensure the right developments happen in the right places at the right time, in Hadleigh and surrounding villages.

Public examination of the Local Plan, the strategic outline for future development of the districts, was paused earlier this year to allow the Babergh and neighbouring council Mid-Suffolk further time to review their evidence.

An exploratory meeting was held with the councils and inspectors on Thursday (December 16) during which a proposed work programme was agreed that would see the councils have an adopted plan next year, helping to shape the future for Babergh and Mid Suffolk's communities.

Work on the Joint Local Plan began in 2016 when the councils began gathering a range of evidence to help inform its preparation, including studies on retail, economic land needs, housing land availability and housing market assessments.

The plan was then further developed following consultation with submission of more than 14,000 comments from over 1,300 people and input from both statutory consultees and cross-party councillors.

The plan – which outlines housing requirements and considers the long-term impact of climate change, including flooding risk, water supply and biodiversity as well as other matters such as supporting the economy and our town centres – is now nearing the final stages of the process. This involves a review by Planning Inspectors, who are appointed by the Secretary of State, to carry out an independent examination before recommending whether or not it can be adopted.

The Inspectors' proposals, agreed on Thursday, will see the councils now proceed with their Joint Local Plan in two parts.

Important social, economic and environmental objectives will be put in place first, while remaining work on spatial strategy matters and housing allocations are addressed in part two. This means the council will have an up-to-date plan for decision making.

Cllr Clive Arthey, Babergh's cabinet member for planning, said: "Development is something that comes up time and again when talking with our residents.

"We want everyone to understand how we're going to provide the housing and the jobs needed in Babergh, and look forward to having this clearly laid out in an adopted Joint Local Plan.

"There is still plenty of work to do in the months ahead, but today's agreement means with can press on with clarity."

The Inspectors gave assurances in the meantime that they recognised around 90% of the housing requirement that Babergh and Mid Suffolk needs to provide is already earmarked through existing commitments and Neighbourhood Plan allocations – meaning the councils can demonstrate they are meeting housing needs while the second part of the Joint Local Plan is developed.

Assistant Director of Planning at Babergh and Mid Suffolk Tom Barker added: "We would like to thank everyone involved to date in the development of our Joint Local Plan which, when adopted, will provide a clear and transparent guide to future development in our districts, balancing the needs of all our communities."

Detailed information about the councils' Joint Local Plan and its progress can be found on the councils' website here.

The virtual meeting between the councils and the inspectors on Thursday, December 16 can be viewed on the councils' YouTube channel.