Helping Shape the Future of East Hanningfield
East Hanningfield Parish is a designated Neighbourhood Area, enabling the Parish Council to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for the parish.
A Neighbourhood Plan allows local communities to help shape future development by setting planning policies that reflect local priorities. Once adopted following independent examination and a local referendum, it becomes part of the statutory Development Plan and is used alongside Chelmsford City Council’s Local Plan when planning applications are determined.
A Neighbourhood Plan can help influence matters such as:
- The location and design of new development.
- Protecting the rural character of the parish.
- Conserving important green spaces, landscapes and heritage assets.
- Supporting community facilities and local businesses.
- Improving walking, cycling and road safety.
Current Position
The Parish Council has recently reviewed the position of the East Hanningfield Neighbourhood Plan project and agreed that the project should be revived in principle.
The Council recognises that preparing a Neighbourhood Plan is a significant undertaking, requiring considerable time, resources, community involvement and appropriate professional planning support. The Council is therefore taking the opportunity to consider carefully how the project could be progressed and supported.
There is also a valuable foundation of previous work to build upon. A Parish Plan was produced in 2010 following extensive consultation with residents, and historic documentation relating to previous work on a Neighbourhood Plan has also been identified. While the 2010 Parish Plan is not itself a Neighbourhood Plan and does not have statutory planning status, it provides a useful record of community views and aspirations at that time.
The Parish Council is now:
- investigating suitable training opportunities for Councillors and others involved in the project;
- considering how best to engage the local community;
- exploring the establishment of a Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group; and
- considering the resources and professional support that may be required.
A further report will be brought to the Parish Council before the next steps are agreed.
Could you get involved?
A Neighbourhood Plan should be community-led and reflect the views and aspirations of the people who live and work in East Hanningfield.
The Parish Council would therefore be interested to hear from residents, local businesses and community organisations who may be interested in helping with the project, including potentially becoming involved in a future Steering Group.
If you would like to express an interest, please contact the Parish Clerk using the details on the Contact Us page.
Further opportunities to get involved will be publicised on this website as the project develops.