The Neighbourhood Planning groups of volunteers have been working with a neighbourhood planning consultant and chartered landscape architect to progress the neighbourhood plan.

We now have a work in progress draft of the plan for discussion with the Parish: 

Since the public consultation in February 2020, the neighbourhood plan group (NPG) have been working with a neighbourhood planning consultant and chartered landscape architect to progress the neighbourhood plan.

The NPG are currently working on:
1. The assessment of potential sites for future housing development (site allocation)
2. A Heathfield enhancement plan
3. Writing the draft Neighbourhood Plan

We are still developing our evidence around potential sites which we intend to allocate for development and we are still considering appropriate enhancement measures in Heathfield. We are now undertaking community engagement on these topics to help us complete the drafting of the neighbourhood plan.

Once we have completed all the content for the neighbourhood plan, we will undertake a formal consultation with residents, local stakeholders and statutory consultees for a minimum period of six weeks. We expect this to take place later this year. Following that, we will revise the plan in light of all feedback and submit it to South Cambridgeshire District Council who will then publish the plan for a further round of consultation and appoint an independent examiner to assess the plan.  

Subject to a successful examination, every resident in the parish will be given a final say on the plan in a parish-wide referendum. If more than 50% of those who participate cast a vote in favour of the plan, the Thriplow & Heathfield Neighbourhood Plan will be adopted by South Cambridgeshire District Council. With immediate effect it will then carry full weight in the determination of planning applications in our parish.

Sites for development

In 2020, the NPG sent out a ‘call for sites’ to identify land that might be open for future housing development. A total of five sites were identified – four in Thriplow Village and one in Heathfield. These included the two sites which have recently applied for planning permission, namely the Grain Store and Rectory Farm sites. 

Our planning specialist and landscape architect put all the sites through a comparative site assessment to gauge their suitability. We will shortly be sending out a leaflet asking for further detail of your views on these proposed sites.