East Suffolk Residents Invited to Help Shape Future Development Plans

Thursday, 11 June 2026 06:00

East Suffolk Council is inviting residents, businesses and community groups to have their say on a new Local Plan that will guide development across the district for the next 20 years.

The new plan will set out a vision for how East Suffolk could grow and change up to 2045, identifying where development may take place and how communities can be supported with homes, jobs, services and infrastructure.

A public questionnaire has been launched to gather views on a range of issues, including housing, transport, design quality, tourism, town centres, community facilities and climate change.

The council says feedback will help shape the priorities of the Local Plan and ensure future consultations reflect the views of local people.

Councillor Philip Packard, East Suffolk’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Coastal Management, described the Local Plan as a vital document that will influence how the district develops over the coming decades. He encouraged as many residents and organisations as possible to take part in the questionnaire.

The plan will help determine where new homes, employment opportunities, shops and community spaces could be located, alongside improvements to infrastructure and services.

As part of preparations, Suffolk’s local authorities have been working together to support a consistent approach to planning across the county.

Residents can complete the questionnaire online, while information about the Local Plan is also available at East Suffolk Council’s Riverside Customer Services Centre in Lowestoft and at libraries across the district.

Responses to the survey must be submitted by 5pm on 29th July.