Plan Consultation Closes

RESIDENTS, businesses and community groups across Rochford District have had their say on the future of the area, as the latest Local Plan consultation closed on Tuesday 24 March.
The Regulation 18 consultation, which ran for six weeks, invited people to comment on an early draft of the new Local Plan.
The plan will guide how Rochford develops over the coming years, including where new homes and jobs could go, what infrastructure will be needed, and how the district’s environment and character can be protected. A sound Local Plan is important to strengthen a local council’s decision making, adding a layer of local control alongside national planning rules.
This stage of consultation focused on testing early ideas and gathering local insight. All feedback helps to shape the next version of the plan.
Coun Danielle Belton, Leader of Rochford District Council, said: “The Local Plan will influence the future of our district for years to come. We can’t stop change, but we can shape and direct it, and it’s vital that the key mechanism for this reflects the views and local knowledge of our communities. Thank you to everyone who took the time to get involved.”
At this stage, no final decisions have been made. The wide-ranging Regulation 18 consultation was designed to open up discussion and identify issues, opportunities and local priorities before more detailed proposals can be developed.
All responses will now be carefully reviewed, alongside the technical evidence still being gathered, as the Council prepares the next stage of the Local Plan.
Coun Belton added, “We are shortly entering the pre-election period, when councils’ communications and announcements are restricted in the run-up to an election. During this period, officers will begin to go through the feedback received, and we will report back to local people on the consultation results in early summer.”
There will be further opportunities for people to have their say. The next stage, known as Regulation 19, is expected this autumn and will present a more developed version of the plan before it is submitted for independent examination.
Interested residents can join the Council’s ‘Rooted in Rochford’ planning e-newsletter for regular updates on the progress of the Local Plan: www.rochford.gov.uk/tellmemore
Picture: Coun Danielle Belton, Leader of Rochford District Council
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