PLANNING inspectors have ruled that the second phase of a blueprint for future development in the Braintree district is legally sound.

Braintree Council says its Local Plan will last until 2033 and will now be presented to the Local Plan Sub-Committee on July 5 prior to going before the full council.

Planning inspectors Jameson Bridgewater and Anne Jordan examined section two of the district’s Local Plan which includes policies and site allocations that can be used for considering planning applications in the district.

As well as identifying sites for housing, the policies seek to ensure there is land for economic growth, supporting infrastructure and protecting land for open spaces and community facilities.

If approved at the Local Plan sub-committee, the plan will be recommended to full council on July 25 for final adoption. 

The inspectors' final report comes after the formal examination held in July 2021 and public consultation on the proposed modifications which ended in January this year. 

After scrutinising the plan, supporting evidence, hearing from stakeholders and taking into account residents' comments via the public consultation, the inspectors' final report concludes the document can be adopted – subject to including modifications.

They confirmed it is legally compliant and sound, subject to councillors' approval.

The final list of main modifications accompanies the inspectors' report, but remains largely unchanged from those which were consulted upon.

Braintree Council planning boss Gabrielle Spray said: “I’m pleased we have now received the inspectors' feedback and we can move ahead with the formal adoption of our Local Plan.

“If approved, it will put us in the best possible position to fight against speculative, unsustainable and poorly designed housing developments, and give greater certainty to our local communities as to where new developments will be built and the infrastructure and facilities that will accompany them.”

The Planning Inspectors final report is available to read online at braintree.gov.uk/S2InspectorsReport