Neighbourhood Plan Working Group

meeting on Monday 12 October 2026 from 10.30am in Meadow View, Mendlesham

Apologies: There were no apologies for absence.  

Presentation and consideration of consultation results:

  1. After counting comments on maps and via the postal box and email a total of 187 consultation responses have been received:

Area

Map

count

Totals

Ivy Hill

35

14

49

Meadow Rise

36

5

41

Behind Drs Surgery

8

9

17

Cotton

0

15

15

Meadow Land (opposite Manor)

7

2

9

Broad Road (nr Bacton Ut)

2

2

4

Earls Green

0

4

4

Spoilt

0

12

12

No development

0

36

36

TOTAL

88

99

187

 

It was noted that only sites available for development can be considered for inclusion in the Neighbourhood Plan. It was agreed that these are the sites submitted through the Call for Sites process.

  1. Communication: It was agreed to publish a message of thanks on social media and the Parish Council website to acknowledge everyone who responded to the consultation, with a commitment to provide further information once it becomes available.The responses raised a number of important issues and concerns, including:
  • Public transport: Bacton has a very limited public transport service.
  • Road safety: The junction at Shop Green was described as dangerous for all road users, including pedestrians, who struggle to navigate around poorly parked vehicles.
  • Pedestrian access: There is a lack of pavements on many routes.
  • Healthcare provision: Virtually all GP visits require a journey to Mendlesham surgery, which may struggle to accommodate additional patients.
  • Open spaces and rural character: Residents had moved to Bacton because of its open spaces and peaceful countryside.
  • Important views: The need to protect views towards St Mary’s Church, as identified by residents in 2025, was highlighted.
  • Impact on existing housing: Concerns were raised that new developments could occupy a dominant position in relation to existing homes and significantly alter the character of the area.
  • Road infrastructure and traffic: Concerns were expressed that local roads were not designed to accommodate current traffic volumes and speeds, with little consideration given to walkers, cyclists and wildlife.
  • Flooding and water supply: Some areas of the village experience flooding during the winter, while the water tower requires topping up during the summer.
  • Supporting infrastructure: The importance of ensuring that any further development is accompanied by appropriate supporting infrastructure was emphasised.
  • HGV traffic: Concerns were raised about the high road bridge in Bacton and the inadequacy of Turkey Hall Lane as an HGV diversion route.
  • Countryside and wellbeing: The value of popular countryside walks and their contribution to mental health and wellbeing was highlighted
  1. Next Steps: It was agreed to seek advice from Ian Poole on how the consultation results could be incorporated into the draft Neighbourhood Plan as a variation, including whether further evidence or research would be required, together with the associated costs and timescales.
  2. To agree the date of the next meeting: to be agreed once information from Ian Poole has been received.
  3. The meeting was closed at 12.23pm

 

After the meeting the following information was calculated (noting these calculations are based on home density per acre, it makes no account for the nature of the land, geology, geography, topography or access.  It has been prepared as a simple guide to inform decision making in regard to potential sites for development and the likely home yield that could be expected).

Site/location

No of houses @ 20 dwellings per acre

No of houses @ 12

dwellings per acre

No of houses @ 7

dwellings per acre

 

338

202

118

Meadow Rise

324

194

113

Behind Drs Surgery

996

598

349

2 x Meadow Land (opposite Manor)

222

123

78

 

 

Neighbourhood Plan meeting 25 August 2026 10

Present: David Ryding, Vanessa Kingsley, Jill Dowsett, Martin Head, Tim Fry and Tina Newell (Parish Clerk).

  • The August 2026 NPPF introduces a new requirement relevant to designated neighbourhood plan areas through Policy HO2, paragraph 5.
  • Bacton’s current draft NP does not allocate housing sites, because there was previously no requirement to do so.
  • The housing requirement for Bacton is not expected to be known until December 2026/January 2027.
  • The meeting agreed not to insert an estimated housing figure or allocate sites prematurely, because an incorrect figure could either result in over-allocation or make the plan ineffective and instead, the agreed approach is to consult residents now, so that their views and preferences are understood before the housing requirement is confirmed and the NP can be appropriately updated.
  • A double-sided questionnaire will be produced explaining the impact of the August 2026 NPPF on the draft Bacton NP and residents will be asked to identify their preferred sites for potential housing development, while making clear that further development is likely to be required.
  • The questionnaire will emphasise that the housing requirement arises from a Government-led planning policy change, rather than being a requirement initiated by the Neighbourhood Plan group.
  • The questionnaire will be delivered to all households in the village on 24 September 2026, with estimated printing costs of approximately £60.
  • Residents will be asked to provide feedback on or before 10 October 2026.
  • The open event on 26 September 2026 will still take place, but its purpose will change from consulting on the draft NP to explaining the NPPF changes and answering residents’ questions.
  • The open-door event on 3 October 2026 will similarly focus on the NPPF changes and will include answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).
  • The results will be available to the NP group as soon after 10 October 2026 as possible where the next stage will be considered.

 

Neighbourhood Plan Working Group held in Bacton Village Hall on 24 06 2026

Councillors Present: David Ryding, Jill Dowsett, Martin Head

Others in attendance: Tina Newell and Andrew Stringer

AS confirmed the comments he will make on the draft Neighbourhood Plan must be viewed as constructive criticism and nothing else noting he is the portfolio holder for planning at MSDC.

  • Remove dear resident
  • Remove details on the shop and fayre.
  • Objectives – define what you mean by good agricultural land as there is no grade A land in Bacton
  • Why has the middle school site and broad road not been included?
  • Important views map doesn’t include all meadow land
  • Important views excludes an important view from the JLP (?)
  • Remove all text relating to Bellway including removal of maps 12 and 13 (The DC reference number is incorrect
  • The plan is undeliverable due to the two community sites
  • Why does Cow Green have a settlement boundary and Station Road not?
  • Would be helpful to summarise the reason for the plan – executive summary?
  • Include a map of the historic build, current build and potential future using the Call4Sites information and critique the latest sites with positive and negatives. This will show where and how much development has happened/may happen.
  • Add the call4sites sites as potential growth noting BMSDC have at least 17k houses to build – consider a development site allocations policy. Critique the sites offered.
  • Agree another consultation as the parameters have now changed (MSDC housing numbers) – include an analysis of what residents what, why they want it and where they want it.
  • Where is the design code?
  • Speak with land owners as a Neighbourhood Plan working group.
  • When reviewing this document review it as a developer!
  • Looks like it has been put together in haste.
  • Transport issues with peripheral commercial development as lorries and trucks are already using narrow road structure through villages.

 

Meeting held on Thursday 18 December at 6.30pm

In attendance: David Chambers, Julie Bonner, James Steed, Jill Dowsett and Ian Poole (Places4People).

Apologies: Helena Carter, Paul Merry, Vanessa Kingsley and Tina Newell.

Notes of 4 September 2025 meeting:

The absence of four members at the meeting was unfortunate but it was recognised that there had been very helpful involvement in the door to door distribution of the consultation literature and attendance at the event on 27 September.

The planned follow up meeting on 13 November was subsequently postponed to give Ian more time to work on the first draft given his pending house move.

 

October 2025 meeting with Parish Council:

Those present felt that, given this had been called by the Parish Council, it was disappointing that there had been little engagement by the Parish Councillors present. Comments that the Middle School site was not considered as an option for the siting of the Sports & Leisure Centre were noted. Our reasoning of it being outside the Bacton parish boundary, and so could not be addressed in the Neighbourhood Plan for the parish, was duly expressed but this might be explored if Wyverstone Parish Council were in agreement.

There was talk of getting the first draft of the Plan to the Parish Council by mid January but it was recognised that a number of decisions concerning its content need to be agreed before the Plan could be written.

Middle School site:

Following the October meeting Helena had contacted District Councillor Mellen about this option. He replied that he was awaiting further information before discussing the matter with Wyverstone Parish Council.

Draft Plan:

Ian reported that, given the issues raised at the October meeting, his ongoing conversations with Mid Suffolk officers and the pending outcome of the latest Call for Sites, he would not now have the first draft ready for the Team to review until early March.

Next Meeting:

The next meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday 5 March 2026 at 6.30pm.

 

September 4, 2025

Present: David Chambers, Helena Carter and Tina Newell.

Apologies: James Steed, Paul Merry, Jill Dowsett and Vanessa Kingsley.

Consultation Event on Community Hall and Sports & Leisure Centre sites: This will now take place at Bacton Village Hall on Saturday 27th September 2025 from 10am to 2pm.Leaflets will be distributed to households from Saturday 13th September with an invitation to make views known online, at the event or on the leaflet questionnaire to be dropped off at the Village Stores, St Mary’s Church or 41 Pound Hill. The draft leaflet was reviewed and the proposed amendments agreed. It will be delivered on Friday 12th September.

Tina Newell will advise the Parish Council of the details of the consultation event and the need for help with the leaflet drop. She will suggest a banner is ordered to promote the event.

Paul Merry will be asked to coordinate the distribution by Parish Councillors.

Timetable for the first draft of the Neighbourhood Plan: Ian Poole anticipates this will be ready to be reviewed by the Team by the end of October 2025.

Next meeting - 13th November 6.30pm at Bacton Manor.

Meeting ended 8.10pm.

 

31 July 2025

Present: David Chambers, Helena Carter, Julie Bonner, Vanessa Kingsley (Councillor), Paul Merry (Councillor) James Steed (Councillor) and Ian Poole (Consultant)

Apologies: Jill Dowsett (Councillor) and Tina Newell (Parish Clerk)

Notes of the meeing held on 26 June 2025 were approved.

Housing Needs Assessment: It was agreed that greater provision for the elderly wishing to downsize should be included in any future development proposals.

Future funding: Following cessation of central grants. The Parish Council agreed at the June meeting to to fund £2,750 for the initial drafting of the Neighbourhood Plan and the July meeting approved a further £6,750 for work to complete the process to the Referendum stage.

Landscape Appraisal: Additional photographs will be provided for the final version. This will be an evidence document sitting alongside the Final Plan.

Masterplanning on the Sports and Leisure site: This was welcomed with the parking all located to the north of the site with the second option showing the Pavilion in the south west corner. The suggested access solution was noted.

New Primary School: This long term requirement will need to be recognised in the draft plan if a suitable site is available along with the potential uses of the existing school site if vacated.

Consultation Event on Community Facility and Sports and Leisure Sites: This will take place on September 26/27 2025. Leaflets to be distributed to households 2 weeks before the consultation with an invitaton to attend with locations for return of any physical forms to be agreed.

Timetable for the first draft of the Neighbourhood Plan: This can be started after the consultation with completion by the end of October 2025.

Other issues: Community actions will need to identified for inclusion. The analysis from the 2024 survey will be reviewed to identify objectives already achieved and those outstanding. A short history of Bacton will also be needed for the plan.

Next meeting: Date of the next meeting agreed to be 4 September at Bacton Manor.

Meeting closed at 7.50pm

 

 

26 June 2025

Present: David Chambers, Juie Bonner, Helena Carter, Vanessa Kingsley (Councillor) and James Steed (Councillor). 

Apologies: Paul Merry (Councillor) and Tina Newell (Parish Clerk)

Housing Needs Assessment: This now incorporates earlier amendments detailing more fuly the facilities and businesses in the village.

Landscape Appraisal: This now incorporates earlier amendments relating to area definitions and further proposed changes would be discussed more fully the July meeting.

Update on the Bellway site: Despite the issues over the S106 Agreement lapse, it is intended to proceed with the public consultation on the original proposed site for a Community facility on the land currently designated as Open Space. 

Masterplanning on the site opposite Shop Green: When the Master Planning Report is available , this will inform the public consultation on that site for a Sports/Leisure centre.

Public Consultation: It was agreed to hold the public consultation on both the above sites at Bacton Village Hall on Saturday 27 September (Subsequently extended to include Friday 26 September).

Master Planning Report: This is delayed awaiting internal information on transport but expected in time for the team to provide its responses by early August 2025.

Future Funding: The £2,275 for People2Places to work on the first draft of the Plan was approved by the Parish Council at its June 2025 meeting.

Following Government withdrawal of future funding for Neighbourhood Plans a quote to complete Bactons Neighbourhood Plan up to Referendum of £6,850 has been received; expenditure for the referendum and later stages will be met by Mid Suffolk District Council.

Recommendations to Parish Council:To commit to fund £6,850 to complete the work for which the Parish Council is responsible.

Display current progress at Bacton Fayre in August and ask People2Places to provide display material.

Next meeting: Date of the next meeting agreed to be 31 July 2025 and invite Ian Poole the external consultant from People2Places.

Meeting closed at 7.45pm