VILLAGE residents have chosen to support the use of a neighbourhood blueprint to determine future development bids.

Feering villagers took to the polls on October 27 and were asked, as part of the local referendum, if they wanted Braintree Council to use a Neighbourhood Plan to help decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.

There were 414 votes in favour of the neighbourhood plan, with 23 against with a 24.68 per cent turn out.

In order to be adopted, it will now go to Braintree Council’s Full Council meeting on December 12 for final approval.

Once adopted, the plan becomes part of the Development Plan for the Braintree district and used in the determination of planning applications in Feering.

The plan, created by Feering Parish Council, sets out how the community want to shape the development and growth of their area and what it should look like.

This includes focuses on safeguarding historic buildings and green spaces, protecting and improving community facilities and what local infrastructure should be provided.

Feering Parish Council started its neighbourhood plan process in 2014.  

Councillor Gabrielle Spray, planning boss at Braintree Council, said: “This is the culmination of over eight years work, and I would like to thank and congratulate the parish council and the community on producing an excellent plan.

“Neighbourhood plans are great at enabling the local community to make its voices heard on future development and shape the growth of their local area.

This plan, if approved at full council, recognises the need for more good quality, environmentally sustainable homes, but also the importance of balancing this with the protection of landscape and green spaces, ensuring local infrastructure is provided and the provision for more community facilities alongside developments.”

Paul Lees, chairman of Feering Parish Council, added: "The plan has been a real team effort so we are extremely pleased that the community has got behind it.

“Thank you to everyone who has participated over the last eight years.”

There are currently six neighbourhood plans that have been adopted in the district, including in Coggeshall, Cressing, Hatfield Peverel and Kelvedon.

Seven more plans are currently in progress.