A new local plan for West Suffolk - #YourFuture #YourSay is being formed. This includes where new homes can and can’t be built in West Suffolk and where land should be set aside for employment growth.
In total, the future housing need identified by Government means that 15,200 more homes will be needed in West Suffolk by 2040. While 8,600 of these already have planning permission, at least 6,600 homes need to be identified through the new local plan.
When it is finalised and adopted, the West Suffolk Local Plan, which covers the period up to 2040, will be used to decide planning applications and will guide where land such as countryside is protected as well as where development for new housing or land for employment can take place.
With or without a local plan, development will still happen. But having a local plan in place means that the council and its communities will have more of a local democratic voice over the proposals that come forward. It offers greater protection to greenfield sites and the countryside, and more safeguards to stop employment land being used for housing.
The local plan will also contain the policies that will secure the delivery of affordable housing, new play areas, green public open space, health and education facilities, and transport provision.
The draft local plan includes some of the early shaping for policies on how development will address climate change, increase biodiversity, and aid people’s health and wellbeing, including through homes that can adapt to support people’s changing health needs as they grow older.
The West Suffolk Local Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination on Friday 24 May 2024, and the inspectors' report into the examination of the West Suffolk Local Plan was received on 1 July 2025 and is available below.
- Inspectors Report (July 2025)
- Inspectors' report appendix - schedule of main modifications (July 2025)
The inspectors 'report marks the end of the examination process. This will now be taken to our next council meeting on 15 July 2025 with a recommendation that council formally adopt the local plan.
You can find out more at West Suffolk Local Plan Review
