Brington & Molesworth Parish Council Neighbourhood Plan

Brington and Molesworth Parish Council in 2021 started the legal process required to enable the development of a Neighbourhood Plan (NP) to support local residents in having their say on the scale and types of development that will make a positive contribution to our community.

The initial stage was to request that Brington and Molesworth Parish be designated as a ‘Neighbourhood Area’ and registered with our local development control authority, Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) Planning who have accepted and approved our request.

The ‘Neighbourhood Plan Team’ has been headed up by Councillors David Fryatt (Head of Neighbourhood Plan), Christopher Huddlestone and Gary Rule.

Four public meetings were held between February and April 2022, with over sixty Brington and Molesworth residents attended the meetings. The feedback was exceptional and we thank you for it! The Neighbourhood Plan Team went on to publish a comprehensive parish questionnaire which was circulated to all families and businesses within the Parish in 2022.  This information now forms the backbone of the proposed Brington and Molesworth Neighbourhood Plan until 2036. Professional input has created Technical Design Reports (including Design Guidance and Housing Needs Assessment).  Reporting to the Parish commenced late 2025, which included two further public meetings held in January 2026.  The necessary Regulation 15 documents were submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council on 20th April 2026. A further Regulation 15 public consultation was undertaken by HDC, which concluded on 7th July 2026. The Neighbourhood Plan was then Regulation 16 Independent Examiner reviewed (report published 27th August 2026).  The examiners report confirms  that the NP meets all legal requirements! The report and NP now has to be signed off by HDC Council Cabinet and then there will be a formal Parish vote, likely in early December 2026.

The Parish Council wishes to thank all villagers whom have helped shape the Neighbourhood Plan over the last five years.

 

Time line, so far:

• 2021
• July 2021 – Application for designation of a Neighbourhood Area letter to Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC). 
• 2022
• February – April 2022 – Public meetings to promote and review a need for a Parish Neighbourhood Plan.
• On 27th June 2022, BMPC issued the Neighbourhood Plan Questionnaire. The questionnaire was delivered either by post or hand with a return envelope to send back to the neighbourhood plan team.
• July 2022 – A massive Thank you!  Over 50% of households and businesses have returned their questionnaires.
• August / September 2022 – Questionnaires have been evaluated and the information will be published within the final Neighbourhood Plan documents. (No personal data will be shared).
• October / November 2022 – Brington and Molesworth PC are consulting with NP professionals – Cambridgeshire Acre, to provide further information to aid our Neighbourhood Plan submission.
• 2023
• November 2022 / March 2023 – Writing of the Neighbourhood Plan.
• February 2023 – First draft of Neighbourhood Plan passed to Parish Councillors.
• March 2023 –  Draft Neighbourhood Plan – Initial comments and feedback provided from Parish Councillors.
• April 2023 / April 2024 – NP Professional Consultancy with Cambridgeshire Acre.
• December 2023 – First Review of Draft Neighbourhood Plan with Profesional Input.
• 2024
• March 2024 – Request for NP Technical Support – AECOM
• October 2024 – Technical Support Stage – preparation of AECOM Design Guidance Review and Report.
• 2025
• January 2025 – Technical Support Stage – AECOM Design Guidance Report and Housing Needs Assessment Report under review.
• February 2025 – Publishing of Brington and Molesworth – Design Codes and Guidance – Final Report January 2025.
• February 2025 – Publishing of Brington and Molesworth Housing Needs Assessment Report.
• March 2025 – July 2025 Further professional Neighbourhood Plan input and review.
• July – November 2025 – Review of Neighbourhood Plan documents. 
• November 2026 – SEA Screening Started
• December 2025 – Strategic Environment Assessment and Hibitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report Completed.
• Regulation 14 Information web page
• December 2025 – Regulation 14 Consulation – Leaflets to all residents and Noticeboards by 18th December.
• 2026
• January 2026 – Regulation 14 Consultation continues with:
• January 2026 – Parish Consultation – Public Exhibition Tuesday 20th & Wednesday 21st January 2026:
• Brington Church – Tuesday 20th January 6pm to 7pm
• Molesworth Village Hall – Wednesday 21st January 6pm to 6.45pm
• January 2026 / February 2026 – Online Survey.
• February 2026 – Regulation 14 Consultation concluded on 5th February.
• 20th April 2026 – Regulation 15 Documents submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council.
• May 2026 – HDC confirmation that they have received our Regulation 15 documents.
• 26th May 2026 – on the HDC Neighbourhood Plan portal: Brington and Molesworth Submission (Regulation 16) Neighbourhood Plan – Consultation on our NP – Six week consultation period – ends 7th July 2026.
• 1 June 2026 – Brington and Molesworth Neighbourhood Plan. We are pleased to announce that the Neighbourhood Plan for Brington and Molesworth has now been put out for public consultation by Huntingdon District Council.  The plan and the opportunity to make comments can be found by visiting:- https://consult.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/kse/event/38557 
• 7th July 2026 – Public consultation now closed
• July / August 2026 – Regulation 16 Independent Examiner – Andrew Freeman BSc (Hons) DipTP DipEM FRTPI – inspection is in progress
• August 2026 – Regulation 16 Independent Examiners Report completed and published 27th August 2026. Confirmation that BMPC NP meets all legal requirements.
• October 2026 – Brington and Molesworth Neighbourhood Plan to be reviewed / approved by HDC Council Cabinet on 20th October 2026.
• December 2026 – Brington and Molesworth Neighbourhood Plan proposed parish referendum early December 2026.

 

Neighbourhood Area Designation

Application for the designation of a neighbourhood area

HDC Neighbourhood and community planning

All maps within the BMPC Neighbourhood Plan are OS Crown copyright. BMPC OS licence – AC0000853571

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