East Suffolk residents are invited to have their say on three new planning documents covering affordable housing, sustainable construction and cycling and walking.

Have Your Say On Draft Planning Documents

By Mel Saunders On Nov 3, 2021

Consultations on three draft documents have launched today (Monday 1 November):

– the draft Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document

– the draft Sustainable Construction Supplementary Planning Document

– and the draft East Suffolk Cycling and Walking Strategy.

The Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) will provide guidance on the implementation of East Suffolk Council’s affordable housing planning policies. The draft SPD covers a range of matters including types of affordable housing, identifying an appropriate mix of affordable housing, the design of affordable housing, legal agreements, carrying out local housing need assessments and making planning applications.

The Sustainable Construction Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) will provide guidance on the Council’s planning policies on sustainable construction, including guidance on a range of topics relating to the construction of environmentally sustainable buildings. Examples include increasing water efficiency in buildings, increasing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions from buildings, use of responsibly sourced and renewable materials, reducing construction waste, orienting buildings for solar gain, and using green infrastructure to increase biodiversity.

The draft East Suffolk Cycling and Walking Strategy provides a district-wide shortlist of cycling and walking infrastructure opportunities. The strategy aims to encourage greater use of sustainable forms of transport, reduce contributions to climate change, support the growth of the tourism industry, and to improve the health and wellbeing of residents by ensuring more trips to work, school, leisure, day-to-day errands, or public transport hubs, such as train stations or park and ride sites, are accessible by bike or on foot. Once adopted, this strategy will replace the Waveney Cycle Strategy (2016) and will cover the whole of the district.

Cllr David Ritchie, Cabinet Member for Planning and Coastal Management said: “We want to increase the opportunities for people to walk and cycle safely around the district, reducing reliance on vehicles, improving the environment, and benefiting people’s health. Our Cycling and Walking Strategy sets out ways we can do this, and we would welcome any feedback on this and on the Supplementary Planning Documents which will enable us to make decisions on future developments.”

Comments on the Draft Sustainable Construction Supplementary Planning Document and Draft Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document must be submitted by 5pm on Monday 13 December 2021 and comments on the Draft Cycling and Walking Strategy must be submitted by 5pm on Monday 10 January 2022.

You can view and comment on the three consultations at www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/planning-policy-consultations

Comments can also be emailed to planningpolicy@eastsuffolk.gov.uk or sent to East Suffolk Council, Planning Policy and Delivery Team, Riverside, 4 Canning Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0EQ.

Paper copies of the draft Supplementary Planning Documents and accompanying Consultation Statements, and the Draft Cycling and Walking Strategy, have been made available at all libraries in the district and in the Council’s Customer Service Centres at the Marina Centre, Lowestoft, NR32 1HH; Woodbridge Library, New Street, Woodbridge, IP12 1DT; and Felixstowe Library, Crescent Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7BY, for inspection during opening hours.

For information on all library opening hours please see www.suffolklibraries.co.uk and for information on the Council’s Customer Service Centre opening hours please see www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/contact-us/customer-services

Due to the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, if you are unable to view these documents online, at a library or in the Customer Service Centres, please contact us for assistance by emailing planningpolicy@eastsuffolk.gov.uk or calling 01394 444557. Please note that if you wish to contact us via telephone, we are currently operating under a voicemail service. Please leave a message including your contact details and your call will be returned as soon as possible.