Neighbourhood Planning allows communities to decide the future of the places where they live. Neighbourhood Planning can include a number of planning documents prepared by local communities:
Neighbourhood Development Plans
Neighbourhood Development Orders (NDO)
Community Right to Build Order (CRtBO)
Neighbourhood Plans, Neighbourhood Development Orders and Community Right to Build Order can be used to add more detail to the policies in the Council’s plans, or cover other aspects appropriate to the aspirations of the community living in the area.
Once ‘made’ by East Cambridgeshire District Council, the Neighbourhood Plan, Neighbourhood Development Orders or Community Right to Build Order will form part of the Development Plan for East Cambridgeshire and will be used in determining planning applications in the area.
Latest News
Swaffham Bulbeck Neighbourhood Plan is successful at Referendum on 26 January 2023.
Swaffham Bulbeck Parish Council had it's proposed neighbourhood plan examined by an independent Examiner in late summer 2022, whom agreed the plan is suitable to progress to a referendum. That referendum took place on 26 January 2023, where 87% of voters were in favour of the plan. To view the plan and other latest news, please visit the Swaffham Bulbeck Neighbourhood Plan page.
Designation of Witcham parish area as a 'Neighbourhood Area', 9 January 2023.
Following an application by Witcham Parish Council on 5 January 2023, the parish of Witcham was successfully designated as a 'Neighbourhood Area' on 9 January 2023. Witcham is the thirteenth parish area in East Cambridgeshire to be designated, and paves the way for Witcham Parish Council to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for its area, should it choose to do so.
Designation of Littleport parish area as a 'Neighbourhood Area', 3 August 2022.
Following an application by Littleport Parish Council on 26 July 2022, the parish of Littleport was successfully designated as a 'Neighbourhood Area' on 3 August 2022. Littleport is the twelfth parish area in East Cambridgeshire to be designated, and paves the way for Littleport Parish Council to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for its area, should it choose to do so.
Neighbourhood Planning in East Cambridgeshire
The Fordham Neighbourhood Plan, Sutton Neighbourhood Plan, Witchford Neighbourhood Plan, Isleham Neighbourhood Plan and Haddenham and Aldreth Neighbourhood Plan have been formally 'made' by East Cambridgeshire District Council.
Designated Neighbourhood Areas are shown on the Map of Designated Neighbourhood Areas (January 2023).
The following table provides a summary of each neighbourhood planning project in the district. For further information, please contact the relevant parish or town council.
| Qualifying body | Date N'hood Area designated | Map of Neighbourhood Area | Current Stage | Date Plan formally 'made' |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutton Parish Council | 08 Jan 2015; amended 27 May 2021 | Sutton Neighbourhood Area Map | Plan made - download the Sutton Neighbourhood Plan. | 30 May 2019 |
| Bottisham Parish Council | 12 Feb 2016 | Bottisham Neighbourhood Area Map | ||
| Witchford Parish Council | 26 Aug 2016; amended 06 Feb 2019 | Witchford Neighbourhood Area Map | Plan made - download the Witchford Neighbourhood Plan | 21 May 2020 |
| Fordham Parish Council | 21 Dec 2017 | Fordham Neighbourhood Area Map | Plan made - download the Fordham Neighbourhood Plan | 18 Dec 2018 |
| Cheveley Parish Council | 10 Dec 2018 | Cheveley Neighbourhood Area Map | ||
| Swaffham Bulbeck Parish Council | 07 Jan 2019 | Swaffham Bulbeck Neighbourhood Area Map | Plan successful at a referendum - see Swaffham Bulbeck Neighbourhood Plan page | |
| Reach Parish Council | 18 Feb 2019 | SEA Determination Statement published August 2021 | ||
| Isleham Parish Council | 21 Feb 2019 | Isleham Neighbourhood Area Map | Plan made - download the Isleham Neighbourhood Plan. | 19 May 2022 |
| Soham Parish Council | 12 Jun 2019 | Soham Neighbourhood Area Map | ||
| Haddenham Parish Council | 06 Aug 2019; amended 10 June 2021 | Haddenham Neighbourhood Area Map | Plan made - see Haddenham and Aldreth Neighbourhood Plan page. | 20 October 2022 |
| Mepal Parish Council | 28 February 2022 | Mepal Neighbourhood Area Map | ||
| Littleport Parish Council | 3 August 2022 | Littleport Neighbourhood Area Map | ||
| Witcham Parish Council | 9 January 2023 | Witcham Neighbourhood Area |
If you require accessible documents please email East Cambs District Council Strategic Planning Team.