Progress of the PLAN

UPDATE 4 MARCH 2024 PLEASE NOTE ARDLEIGH PARISH COUNCIL'S RESPONSE TO THE FOCUSSED CONSULTATION CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM THE 'ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS' BELOW

Tendring District Council have provided the update below.

'Between May and June 2023, the Regulation 16 consultation of the Ardleigh Neighbourhood Plan took place. On completion an Examiner was jointly appointed by the Parish and District council.

Once the Parish and District Council had responded to the Examiner’s Interim Note, the Examiner raised a number of issues that needed addressing before the Examination could continue.  

The specific matters are listed below and are now open for a focused public consultation:

Schedule of Proposed Significant Changes document - the Examiner has proposed a number of significant changes as well as other modifications to the Neighbourhood Plan in order to ensure it meets the basic conditions.  

HRA & SEA combined documentation. A Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Report was prepared by Essex County Council Place Services on behalf of the District Council in support of the Neighbourhood Plan. The three statutory consultation bodies (Natural England, Historic England and the Environment Agency) were not formally consulted on the Screening Report and no formal decision by the District Council was made on the Screening Report. A consultation was held between 16th November and the 18th December 2023 where comments from Natural England and Historic England were received. The District Council was therefore able to publish our formal decision as Competent Authority stating that the Screening Report now meets the requirements of the Regulations set out in regulations 9(2)(b) and 12(5) of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004.

NPPF - on 20th December 2023 Government published a new version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).  Comments are invited on this revised NPPF with regard to how the Neighbourhood Plan meets the basic conditions. 

You can view and make comments on all 3 matters via the Consultation Portal https://tendringdc.oc2.uk/

Alternatively, you can write to us at – Planning Policy, Tendring District Council, Town Hall, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1SE.
Hard copies of the documentation can be viewed at reception in the Town Hall during office hours.

The consultation will run from Monday January 22nd for 6 weeks until 5pm on Monday 4th March.

Please note:This consultation is a focused exercise, relating only to the above-mentioned matters. Previously submitted comments still stand and do not need resubmitting or confirmation from the Council that these representations have been received. The Council is not receiving any further representations on any other matters.

On the 14th June Mrs Ann Skippers was appointed as the Examiner for the Ardleigh Neighbourhood Plan. The Examination for the Ardleigh Neighbourhood Plan formally opened on Wednesday 12th July 2023. On the 18th of August, the Examiner sent the Council an Interim Note of Findings which detailed a number of questions and matters of clarification. See below for this document and Ardleigh Parish Council's response to the questions.

13 December 2022. The final Plan has now been submitted to  Tendring District Council.  To download a copy of the plan and supporting documents see 'our plan' tab.

An early draft of the Neighbourhood Plan was shared with Tendring District Council. We have been working with our consultants to finalise Policy headings and content

More than 20 Local Green Spaces Assessments were completed by members of the working group- identifying areas which are felt to be special for reasons of wildlife, heritage, beauty etc. and which should be protected.  The image shows just one of these spaces.

A decision was taken to update the Village Design Statement update and incorporate it in to the Plan.

There has also been liaison with Tendring District Council and Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community about effects on Crockleford Heath.

A short video montage of Crockleford Heath was made by members of the working group who walked the area in the early summer https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KSFTCLUagWo_IIBasIlRxBsbVSX0onbH/view?usp=sharing

The second larger consultation questionnaire was published in November 2020 and developed the themes from the initial consultation.  It was widely distributed  via an online 'survey monkey' link and with paper copies available in local retail outlets. There was a social media campaign on a new Instagram page (@ardelighnp) and facebook (@ardleighpc). We promoted the questionnaire via articles and an insert in the Ardleigh Advertiser and emails to local businesses and contacts and posters around the Parish.  Covid-19 restrictions meant that face to face promotion of the consultation was not possible, but we have tried to be creative and persistent to encourage residents to have their say.

Our progress so far this year includes:

· Formation of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group

· Formation of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

· Formally approved the Terms of Reference- Chaired by Councillor Chris Whitfield (pictured(

· Engaged the support of the RCCE (Rural Community Council for Essex) – a charitable body experience of assisting and engaging other communities in developing their own plans

· Engaged the support of Planning Direct – a specialist planning consultancy

· Drafting a project plan, communication plan and a SWOT questionnaire

· Requested for Tendring District Council to formally approve to designate the whole of the Ardleigh Parish as a Neighbourhood Development Plan Area – this has now been approved

The Neighbourhood Plan Working group continue to meet once a week on a Monday at 6pm via Zoom. The Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group meet once a week on a Thursday at 6pm via Zoom.

If you would like to comment or get involved, please see the Have Your Say Page.