Broadclyst Neighbourhood Plan one step closer to being formally made

88 percent of voters were in favour of the Broadclyst Neighbourhood Plan when it went to referendum.

A referendum on the document, which will be used to help shape developments and planning applications in the parish, was held on 22 June.

The plan, which was more than five years in the making, will be considered by East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) Cabinet on 12 July 2023 to determine if it can be formally ‘made’.

The Neighbourhood Plan sets out policies to meet the changing and diverse needs of a rapidly growing community and how issues including climate change can be tackled, whilst preserving and enhancing the distinctive character and landscape of the parish. 

The Neighbourhood Plan, which was prepared thanks to the hard work of a steering group made up of members of the parish council and volunteers from the local community, was based on extensive consultation with residents.

The question posed at the referendum, and to which voters said yes, was: “Do you want East Devon District Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Broadclyst to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”.

The plan and other related documentation can be viewed on EDDC’s website here: https://eastdevon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policy/neighbourhood-and-community-plans/neighbourhood-plans/neighbourhood-plans-being-produced-in-east-devon/broadclyst/#article-content

Councillor Olly Davey, EDDC’s Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning, said: "Neighbourhood Plans are an excellent tool for communities to express their vision and aspirations for the future development of their area.  They can influence where development takes place, and the type of development they wish to see.  They can give communities control over the design and appearance of new developments, and the infrastructure they should contain or support, to ensure that the whole community benefits from them."