Braintree District Council Launches Final Local Plan Consultation

Braintree District Council has launched the Regulation 19 consultation, the final public stage before submitting its 15-year Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate. The plan proposes thousands of new homes in areas including Halstead, Hatfield Peverel, and the Kingsdean development near Kelvedon. Unlike earlier stages, this consultation asks residents to verify if the council followed due process and if the plan is legally sound.

Following approximately 2,000 initial consultation responses, the council updated the plan to increase provisions for transport, healthcare, and education. New infrastructure measures include improvements to the Galleys Corner and Marks Farm roundabouts, a new link road in Halstead, and the creation of mobility hubs in Braintree, Kelvedon, Halstead, Hatfield Peverel, and Witham. The revised plan also allocates four new healthcare facilities and 33 early years childcare facilities, alongside two new secondary school sites.

Councillor Gabrielle Spray stated the plan is designed to be infrastructure-led, requiring developers to fund essential services to mitigate road congestion and urban sprawl. The council intends to submit the final document by December 31 to avoid restarting the process under new planning rules. An independent inspector from the Planning Inspectorate is expected to examine the plan in 2027.