Castle Point Plan - Issues & Options Consultation
Feedback updated 1 Aug 2025
We asked
We asked you about the issues that should be addressed through the Castle Point Plan, and the options available for addressing them.
Specifically we sought your views on the options for meeting housing needs across the borough.
You said
Overwhelmingly you told us:
- You were concerned about the impact of growth on infrastructure and on the natural environment and Green Belt.
- You'd prefer for us to make the best use of land in the existing urban area and to look towards the regeneration of employment land rather than greenfield sites when identifying locations for new housing.
- You supported the protection of open spaces, wildlife and heritage assets.
- You supported a move towards carbon net zero in new development, and that community, transport and health infrastructure were important to you.
- You wanted to ensure that where new houses were built that they were affordable for local people. You also indicated support for local businesses.
Not everybody agreed with every point above. There were some stakeholders that wanted to see higher levels of growth, and less focus placed on nature conservation outcomes.
We did
The Castle Point Plan is built around four key policies that will guide development across Castle Point:
- Protecting and improving green spaces: The plan puts nature first—supporting parks, green areas, and local biodiversity so that residents can enjoy more access to beautiful and healthy environments.
- Using urban land wisely: New development will be focused in existing towns and urban areas, with guidelines that make sure building densities are sustainable and suitable for each location.
- Meeting local needs for homes and jobs: The plan identifies where new housing and business spaces should go, helping Castle Point grow in a smart and balanced way. The current extent of the Green Belt remains unchanges.
- Investing in infrastructure and community services: Developers will be expected to help fund things like schools, roads, healthcare, and community facilities - so that growth benefits everyone.
Results updated 1 Aug 2025
A Consultation Statement setting out the results of the Issues and Options Consultation has been prepared.
Links:
Published responses
View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.
Overview
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 possible, enhanced.
- The types and sizes of homes and affordable housing.
It will also outline where the most appropriate locations are to accommodate these needs.
A plan such as this can only be created with broad and in-depth engagement with all sections of the Castle Point community at every stage of its development.
What is the Issues and Options Document?
We are now at the stage where, thanks in large part to feedback from residents, we are able to outline what the key issues facing our borough are and put forward a set of options to tackle these. The Issues and Options document sets this out and poses a series of questions to ensure we have identified the right issues and to find out what residents and stakeholders feel about the options for tackling the issues.
What happens next
This is an important stage of consultation on the Castle Point Plan. The Council will review all the comments received and publish a summary report on the Council’s website. The comments, along with technical evidence the Council is preparing, will help to prepare a draft Castle Point Plan.
The next stage will be the Publication of the Castle Point Plan prior to its Submission to Government, who will arrange for an independent Planning Inspector to conduct an Examination in Public.
The duration of the Examination in Public is difficult to estimate, as the programme is determined by the Planning Inspector, but we hope that the new Castle Point Plan will be in place by late 2026.
If you make a response to this consultation we will automatically keep you informed as the next steps as the preparation of the Castle Point Plan take place, including notifying you of opportunities to make representations on the draft plan.
If you don’t wish to make a representation, but do wish to be added to the Council’s database to be kept informed about the progress of the new Castle Point Plan, you can register your contact details at CPPlan@castlepoint.gov.uk.
We will treat any contact details you provide us in accordance with our privacy policy - Privacy - Castle Point Borough Council - Citizen Space
Events
-
Benfleet 'Issues & Options' workshop
From 6 Aug 2024 at 19:00 to 6 Aug 2024 at 20:30St Georges Church Hall:
Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan. -
South Benfleet 'Issues & Options' workshop
From 7 Aug 2024 at 19:00 to 7 Aug 2024 at 20:30Richmond Hall:
Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan. -
Daws Heath 'Issues & Options' workshop
From 9 Aug 2024 at 19:00 to 9 Aug 2024 at 20:30Daws Heath Social Hall:
Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan. -
Thundersley 'Issues & Options' workshop
From 13 Aug 2024 at 14:00 to 13 Aug 2024 at 15:30Castle Point Borough Council Offices:
Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan. -
South Benfleet 'Issues & Options' workshop
From 14 Aug 2024 at 19:00 to 14 Aug 2024 at 20:30Richmond Hall:
Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan. -
Thundersley 'Issues & Options' workshop
From 15 Aug 2024 at 14:00 to 15 Aug 2024 at 15:30Castle Point Borough Council Offices:
Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan. -
Canvey Island 'Issues & Options' workshop
From 16 Aug 2024 at 19:00 to 16 Aug 2024 at 20:30St Nicholas Church Hall:
Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan. -
Thundersley 'Issues & Options' workshop
From 20 Aug 2024 at 14:00 to 20 Aug 2024 at 15:30Runnymede Hall:
Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan. -
Canvey 'Issues & Options' workshop
From 21 Aug 2024 at 14:00 to 21 Aug 2024 at 15:30St Nicholas Church Hall:
Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan. -
Hadleigh 'Issues & Options' workshop
From 22 Aug 2024 at 19:00 to 22 Aug 2024 at 20:30Hadleigh Baptist Church:
Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan. -
Online Workshop
From 3 Sep 2024 at 19:00 to 3 Sep 2024 at 20:30Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan.
To join this session please copy and paste the following into your web browser:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MmZlMDI5NDAtYzMyZi00NGQzLTk2OWYtMWVhMzc4ZjllMGY1%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%223b18eb63-66cf-4303-a287-7eb8e49e2e98%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22b9b4762c-d925-4c65-bbfc-c9942956413e%22%7d -
Thundersley 'Issues & Options' workshop
From 4 Sep 2024 at 19:00 to 4 Sep 2024 at 20:30Runnymede Hall:
Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan. -
Daws Heath 'Issues & Options' workshop
From 5 Sep 2024 at 14:00 to 5 Sep 2024 at 15:30Daws Heath Social Hall:
Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan. -
Online Workshop
From 6 Sep 2024 at 14:00 to 6 Sep 2024 at 15:30Workshop to discuss the Issues and Options for the development of the Castle Point Plan.
To join this session please copy and paste the following into your web browser:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MTg0NGQxMWYtNWEzZC00OTIzLTlhMGEtYjhjZWVlOTk2NWQ3%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%223b18eb63-66cf-4303-a287-7eb8e49e2e98%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22b9b4762c-d925-4c65-bbfc-c9942956413e%22%7d
Areas
- All Areas
Audiences
- Older people
- Retired People
- Working Aged People
- Young people
Interests
- Castle Point Plan
- local plan
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