Saxmundham Town Council has formally launched a public consultation on modifications to the Saxmundham Neighbourhood Plan. This important stage, known as a Regulation 14 consultation, gives residents, businesses, community organisations, and statutory bodies the chance to help shape the future development of the parish.
Following a parish boundary change in 2023, all land allocated by East Suffolk Council for the South Saxmundham Garden Neighbourhood, which includes plans for 800 new dwellings, now lies within Saxmundham’s boundary.
As a result, the Modified Neighbourhood Plan introduces new policies to guide development within the new Neighbourhood, with the aim of ensuring that it will be sustainable, well connected, and benefit the wider community. These new policies deal with connecting the new development to the town and wider countryside; green infrastructure; community facilities; design of the neighbourhood.
A new policy has also been included to address the potential negative impacts of national energy infrastructure projects on Saxmundham, should they receive government approval.
The consultation began on 27 June 2025 and runs until 15 August 2025, providing a seven-week period for residents, businesses and stakeholders to review and comment on the modifications.
The modified Neighbourhood Plan proposal is available for inspection:
- Saxmundham Library, in Street Farm Road: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30am to 5:30pm; Saturday from 10:00am to 1:00pm; and Sunday from 10:00am to 3:00pm.
- The Town House, in Station Approach (opposite the station): Monday to Thursday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
- Online at www.saxmundham.org or by request from townclerk@saxmundham-tc.gov.uk or 01728 604595.
Representations on the modifications can be made using consultation response forms. Paper copies are available at Saxmundham Library, at the Town House, and online at www.saxmundham-tc.gov.uk.
A statement is also available on www.saxmundham.org, accompanying the Modified Neighbourhood Plan. This sets out that the Town Council, as the qualifying body, does not consider that the modifications are so significant or substantial as to change the overall nature of the existing Neighbourhood Plan. However, this position is subject to the subsequent views of East Suffolk Council and the independent examiner at later stages of the process.
Completed forms can be returned to Saxmundham Town Council, The Town House, Station Approach, Saxmundham, IP17 1BW or emailed to saxplan1@gmail.com by 15 August 2025. There is a consultation form to complete online on the Community Consultations page.
Councillor John Findlay, Chair of Saxmundham Town Council, said:
“This consultation is an important opportunity for residents to shape how Saxmundham develops in the years ahead. We encourage everyone to review the proposals and share their views so that the final Neighbourhood Plan truly reflects our community’s shared priorities and vision.”
The Saxmundham Neighbourhood Plan is a community-led document designed to guide the town’s future regeneration and growth while protecting its unique charact
