Chelmsford City Council is in the midst of a critical review of its Local Plan, designed to guide sustainable growth through 2041. The second consultation stage, which concluded in June 2024, saw a robust response from the public, with over 10,000 comments received from diverse stakeholders. These responses are now being processed and will be presented at the Policy Board meeting on September 26, 2024. Under planning law, councils are required to review their Local Plans at least every five years, and Chelmsford is on track to complete this task by May 2025. The first consultation phase kicked off in August 2022 and allowed residents to voice their opinions on the Issues and Options for the Local Plan.

The feedback collected has been instrumental in shaping the Preferred Options document that was consulted on in the second phase. The council's commitment to public engagement highlights the importance of community input in urban planning. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the comments on the consultation portal as the process continues.