The BAG Guide to the Issues & Options Public Consultation Summer 2023
Basildon Council is holding a new Issues & Options public consultation for the next Local Plan under the theme of 'the first conversation about our new Local Plan'.
It started on 27 June and will run for 10 weeks to 5 September 2023.
As before, we need a big public response and we will do what we can to help in this regard, but ultimately it is down to individuals to study and understand the consultation materials and make their own judgments and comments.
The consultation is high level and covers many themes. It does not detail any development sites at this stage. But the responses we provide now will be used to influence the next stage which will be the first Draft Plan next year. At that point will see the sites selected for the first time so we need to speak out through the current consultation to make sure that that our views on what we are prepared to accept, and also what we are not, are properly considered and inform the next stage.
The key thing is that we should aim to provide positive and creative input. Simply saying no to everything is not going to help. A new Local Plan is essential and new house building is inevitable so let's try to make it a good plan that we can all embrace. To be blunt, if we do not comment now to influence the next stage we could find ourselves on the back foot next year fighting something we don't agree with, or like! That will not be a good position to be in.
It started on 27 June and will run for 10 weeks to 5 September 2023.
As before, we need a big public response and we will do what we can to help in this regard, but ultimately it is down to individuals to study and understand the consultation materials and make their own judgments and comments.
The consultation is high level and covers many themes. It does not detail any development sites at this stage. But the responses we provide now will be used to influence the next stage which will be the first Draft Plan next year. At that point will see the sites selected for the first time so we need to speak out through the current consultation to make sure that that our views on what we are prepared to accept, and also what we are not, are properly considered and inform the next stage.
The key thing is that we should aim to provide positive and creative input. Simply saying no to everything is not going to help. A new Local Plan is essential and new house building is inevitable so let's try to make it a good plan that we can all embrace. To be blunt, if we do not comment now to influence the next stage we could find ourselves on the back foot next year fighting something we don't agree with, or like! That will not be a good position to be in.
How to access the consultation
The preferred and possibly easiest way to respond to the consultation is via the council's new online engagement portal.
It can be found at this website basildonlocalplan.commonplace.is/
Simply enter your email address to register. No other details are required and there is no password. You will receive an email acknowledging your registration. Follow any instructions in that email. Check spam folders if you don't get the email in you inbox.
It can be found at this website basildonlocalplan.commonplace.is/
Simply enter your email address to register. No other details are required and there is no password. You will receive an email acknowledging your registration. Follow any instructions in that email. Check spam folders if you don't get the email in you inbox.
How to respond to the consultation
Visit the same website as above and read the proposals under the 'Have Your Say' section. There are 16 proposals or chapters in total, the first of which is aimed at 13-18 year old residents. Please make the younger generations aware so that they take part too. The Local Plan will have an impact on their lives as they move into adulthood.
You can read and respond to the proposals in any order and you do not have to complete them all. You can dip in and out of the consultation at anytime over the coming weeks before the deadline of 5 September. What you enter will be saved each time.
You can read and respond to the proposals in any order and you do not have to complete them all. You can dip in and out of the consultation at anytime over the coming weeks before the deadline of 5 September. What you enter will be saved each time.
Proposal structure
Each of the proposals are structured in a similar way. There is some narrative from the council that should be read and there are questions relative to that narrative.
We think that some of the questions are a bit limiting and potentially leading but the good news is that each of the proposals has a free form box towards the end where you can make comments against the subject matter.
We think that some of the questions are a bit limiting and potentially leading but the good news is that each of the proposals has a free form box towards the end where you can make comments against the subject matter.
What to say
We are not providing suggested replies to every proposal or question. Much of the consultation is very wide reaching and requires personal consideration and comment.
However, we believe that 5 of proposals need very careful consideration as they apply to the Local Plan period, the number of houses, the type of houses, where the houses should be built and infrastructure. Get all of those elements right this time and we should see a much better Local Plan that is good for the existing residents of the borough, our communities and the environment, whilst still providing sufficient housing to meet local need over the coming years plus a degree of inward migration to help the national housing picture.
Please keep our overriding message in mind when replying to the consultation.......
However, we believe that 5 of proposals need very careful consideration as they apply to the Local Plan period, the number of houses, the type of houses, where the houses should be built and infrastructure. Get all of those elements right this time and we should see a much better Local Plan that is good for the existing residents of the borough, our communities and the environment, whilst still providing sufficient housing to meet local need over the coming years plus a degree of inward migration to help the national housing picture.
Please keep our overriding message in mind when replying to the consultation.......
Also, we suggest that you give generic responses where appropriate rather that naming specific areas or locations where you would be happy for development to take place. Refer to brownfield or greenfield or Green Belt and urban or rural rather than saying x street or y town. However, if you want to name specific locations where you do NOT want to see development take place then be more specific but please do not come across as 'not in my back yard'. All parts of the borough need to contribute to growth as long as it is sustainable and does not adversely affect existing residents or the environment.
The 5 key proposals
These are the 5 of the 16 proposals that we believe are most crucial, named exactly as they are shown on the council's system and presented in the same order as set out on the consultation portal. Please click on each for more information.
Strategic Matters and Key Issues
Delivering Growth & Continued Prosperity
Improving Access to Housing
Securing Sufficient Infrastructure to support Growth
Spatial Options to Delivering Growth
Strategic Matters and Key Issues
Delivering Growth & Continued Prosperity
Improving Access to Housing
Securing Sufficient Infrastructure to support Growth
Spatial Options to Delivering Growth
Anything else?
The core proposals may not cover everything that you want to say so please add anything else to the free form box under the 'Local Plan - Any other comments' proposal.
Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA)
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This is the last proposal. It requires you to read a very long and technical document that can be found in the Document Library. It is a necessary part of the process which is why the council is making it public and part of the consultation but only consider responding to this if you have time to read it and see the need to comment.
A copy of the Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) can be downloaded HERE. |
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Need more help?
Printed materials
Printed copies of the consultation can be found and read at the Basildon, Billericay and Wickford libraries and at the council offices in Basildon.
Drop in sessions
Basildon council are offering drop in sessions to allow residents to speak to council officers about the consultation and to assist with completing the questions.
These will be at the council offices in Basildon and need to be pre-booked for the following dates by calling the customer contact centre on 01268 533333 or by emailing [email protected].
4th & 6th July
22nd & 24th August
These will be at the council offices in Basildon and need to be pre-booked for the following dates by calling the customer contact centre on 01268 533333 or by emailing [email protected].
4th & 6th July
22nd & 24th August
Online Q&A sessions
Residents can attend an online Q&A session on 25 July between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm.
To register call the customer contact centre on 01268 533333 or email [email protected].
To register call the customer contact centre on 01268 533333 or email [email protected].
Other ways to respond, downloadable documents & Basildon council links
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A downloadable version of the consultation is available HERE.
In that document on page 4 in paragraph 1.20 it states that a form can be requested from the council to submit a written response. We suggest that you contact 01268 533333 or email [email protected] if this is an option you would like to use. However, if at all possible we recommend that you respond via the online portal. A glossary of terms used in the consultation can be downloaded HERE. We specifically ask that you read the definition of 'affordable housing' as it may not be what you expect and the council uses the term to suggest that building more houses will make them more affordable. It doesn't! |
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