Have your say on the Castle Point Plan

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.

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.

We 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 undertook 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 in the winter of 2025. 

As a consequence of a technology error, there was an earlier version of the Local Plan that appeared on the Council’s website which could be construed as being subject to consultation. This earlier incomplete draft was, for a period, accessible within the online consultation form only.

To confirm, the correct version of the Local Plan was published in all other relevant places including on the Council’s website landing page, council offices and libraries.

As a consequence of this technology error the Council is undertaking further consultation on the Castle Point Plan to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to make representations on the correct version of the plan.

If you made representations during the original consultation, will will write to you setting out how we are dealing with those representations

Once the plan has been submitted to the Secretary of State for examination in public, the timetable will be set out by the Planning Inspector/s appointed to examine the plan. 

The Planning Inspector/s will issue questions which the Council and stakeholders will be invited to answer in advance of hearing sessions. At the hearing sessions the Council and stakeholders will be invited to share their views on the plan and discuss outstanding issues. 

In all cases where Planning Inspectors have found plans sound, it has been with modifications. There will be consultation on any modifications before the Castle Point Plan can be adopted.

The Planning Inspector/s will provide a report setting out their findings and the modifications needed for the plan to be adopted. 

It is anticipated that, subject to the plan being found sound, it will be adopted later in 2026. This is a decision of the Council.

Once adopted, the Castle Point Plan will replace the 1998 Local Plan, and will be used for the determination of planning applications from that point forward.