Have your say on the Castle Point Plan
What is the Castle Point Plan?
A priority for the Council is creating a bright and prosperous future for Castle Point. Key to this is planning how our borough will develop in the coming decades. We must ensure we have the right housing, infrastructure, green spaces and services to meet residents needs as we change and grow. To this end, we are developing the Castle Point Plan.
When complete, the Castle Point Plan will act as a framework to inform planning decisions and guide development in the borough over the next 20 years.
Phases in preparing the Castle Point Plan
Issues Identification (complete)
We undertook engagement on the issues that should be addressed through the Castle Point Plan from March to August 2023. We received around 1,500 responses to the engagement and met around 200 residents out and about in the community. Alongside engagement work we also undertook studies and assessments that helped us understand the need for development and the role the places and spaces within the borough play in meeting people's needs.
Issues and Options (complete)
Having listened to the initial engagement and reviewed the evidence base work undertaken in the issues identification stage we identified the key issues we need to address through the plan and some options for addressing those issues. From July to September 2024 we engaged with residents, partner organisations and other stakeholders to ensure we were heading in the right direction and to find out which options they preferred.
Regulation 19 Draft Plan (August to September 2025)
We have used the responses to the Issues and Options Engagement, along with evidence about development needs, the environment, transport and infrastructure capacity to draft the Castle Point Plan. We are undertaking consultation on the Regulation 19 Draft Castle Point Plan from August to September 2025. Following this consultation, the Council will take the decision as to whether to proceed to the independent examination of the Plan by the Planning Inspectorate.
Have your say
Castle Point Plan Draft (Regulation 19) Consultation
Regulation 19 and why we are consulting you The Castle Point Plan will set out where new development will be allocated, how much affordable housing will be built and includes policies for considering new development proposals such as infrastructure, community facilities, design and heritage and addressing the causes and potential impacts of climate change. It will support the growth and regeneration of the Borough up to 2043. Regulation 19 is the next stage in...
Equality Impact Assessment of the Castle Point Plan (Regulation 19 Draft)
The Castle Point Plan is for everybody who lives in, or will live in Castle Point over the next 20 years. It is therefore important that we ensure that it makes provision for everyone regardless of their characteristics. The Equality Act 2010 requires the Council to ensure that all its policies, including the Castle Point Plan: Eliminate discrimination, harrassment and victimisation; Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share relevant protected...
Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Castle Point Plan (Regulation 19 Draft)
In preparing the Castle Point Plan the Council has ensured that the proposals it contains will achieve relevant environmental, economic and social objectives. This has been achieved through the Sustainability Appraisal process. The Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment has used a framework to interatively assess and improve the policies and proposals in the plan as they have emerged. It has also ensure that the Castle Point Plan is appropriate, having assessed...
Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Castle Point Plan (Regulation 19 Draft)
In preparing the Castle Point Plan the Council has ensured that the proposals it sets out will not cause harm to the integrity of Habitats Sites. Habitats Sites are those sites which are designated under the Habitats Regulations, and locally include the Benfleet and Southend Marshes Special Protection Area. The Habitats Regulations Assessment identifies the Habitats Sites that may be impacted by proposal in the Castle Point Plan, their vulnerabilities and the likely sources of harm...
Closed engagements and consultations
Castle Point Plan - Issues & Options Consultation
What is the Castle Point Plan? The Castle Point Plan will set out the policies and proposals for the how the borough will develop over the next 20 years. The plan will define what the needs of residents are including: The types of industrial and commercial spaces required. Infrastructure requirements such as roads, shops, and healthcare services. What green space and outdoor amenities should be protected and, where...
Castle Point Plan - Your Community, Your Views
The Council is talking and listening to communities across Castle Point to ensure residents’ views are central to shaping the borough in the coming decades. Understanding what people value and would like to see improve in their area, will be at the heart of a plan to guide development up to 2050. Once complete the Castle Point Plan will act as a framework to help inform planning decisions and the Council has pledged t o give the communities in Castle...
Evidence Base
Find out more about the evidence base we've developed to support the development of the Castle Point Plan.