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Castle Point Plan Consultation

We’ve set out a bold, community-led strategy for sustainable growth across the Borough. The Castle Point Plan will set out where new development will be allocated, how much affordable housing will be built and more up to 2043.

A further consultation is now open. Please give us your views 

Castle Point Plan Overview and Programme

Last updated: 24 October 2025

On 23 July 2025 the Council approved to proceed to a formal regulation 19 consultation on the  Castle Point Plan Regulation 19 Consultation - July 2025 [pdf] 29MB. A consultation was then held for eight weeks between August and September 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.

This consultation will last six weeks and close on the 5 December 2025. Any responses received during that period will be validated before a decision is taken to progress the Castle Point Plan to examination.

The consultations for the Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environment Assessment, Habitat Regulations Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment, have been re-opened to align with the Further Consultation on the Regulation 19 Castle Point Plan.
 
There have been no changes to the Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environment Assessment, Habitat Regulations Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment since they were published for consultation on the 1 August 2025.
 
If you have already provided comments on the Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environment Assessment, Habitat Regulations Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment since 1 August 2025, then we have received these, and they have been accepted as duly made, unless we have contacted you separately to advise otherwise.

Once adopted, the Castle Point Plan will guide development in Castle Point up until 2043. It will provide a framework to inform decision making, with local communities having a strong voice in determining what will happen where they live.

The agreed timetable for the preparation of the Castle Point Plan is set out below. Details are published within the approved —  Local Development Scheme - July 2025.pdf [pdf] 331KB

The need to undertake the Further Regulation 19 Consultation has caused a delay to this timetable of around six weeks. A revised Local Development Scheme will be provided in due course.

If you would like to be kept informed of the progress of the Castle Point Plan please email CPPlan@castlepoint.gov.uk to be added to our mailing list. 

Castle Point Plan Timetable as per Local Development Scheme July 2025
Stage Time Period Engagement Activity
Issues Identification January 2023 - August 2023 4 - 6 months engagement on issues with partners, the community, local businesses and other stakeholders. The Initial Engagement Outcomes Report 2023 [pdf] 4MB  has the key outcomes from this engagement. 
Options Development September 2023 - June 2024 Feedback on how the Council is addressing the issues raised. Some informal engagement may occur.
Developing the Plan June 2024 – July 2025 2- 3 months Options Engagement with partners, the community, local businesses and other stakeholders. (Formal regulation 18)
Publication August 2025 – September 2025 Formal consultation with partners, the community, local businesses and other stakeholders (Formal regulation 19)
Submission November 2025  
Examination November 2025 – June 2026 (Estimated, dependent on Examiner) Those who have made formal comments at the Publication 
Stage may be invited by the Inspector to participate in the  Examination.
Adoption September 2026 (Estimated, dependent on Examiner)