East Suffolk Council has reopened its Local Plan Call for Sites, inviting landowners and developers to submit potential development sites by 16 November 2026, including land for housing, custom and self build and community uses.
East Suffolk Council has reopened its Local Plan Call for Sites, providing a further opportunity for landowners, developers and other stakeholders to put forward land for potential future development across the district.
The initiative forms part of the preparation of a new Local Plan, which will guide development in East Suffolk through to 2045. The emerging plan will replace the existing Suffolk Coastal and Waveney Local Plans, helping to establish where future housing, employment and other development could take place.
With the council seeking to identify additional land to meet its future development requirements, the reopened Call for Sites could be of particular interest to landowners with potential development opportunities, as well as those working in the custom and self build sector.
Submissions must be made by 5pm on Monday 16 November 2026.
What is East Suffolk Council’s Call for Sites?
A Call for Sites is an early-stage evidence-gathering exercise undertaken as part of Local Plan preparation. It enables planning authorities to identify land that may be available for development and assess its potential suitability for future allocation.
East Suffolk Council’s initial Call for Sites ran from October 2025 to January 2026, attracting approximately 500 submissions. The council has now reopened the process to widen the range of sites available for consideration as it develops its new Local Plan.
The authority is inviting submissions for a variety of potential uses, including:
- Housing and residential development
- Employment and commercial uses
- Sports and leisure facilities
- Community facilities and spaces
- Infrastructure and other development opportunities
For housing proposals, the council will now accept sites capable of accommodating three or more homes, broadening the opportunity for smaller-scale development.
Importantly, submitting a site does not mean it will automatically be allocated for development. Each submission will be assessed by the council, with suitability, availability and deliverability among the considerations informing the emerging Local Plan.
What does the Call for Sites mean for landowners?
The reopening provides an opportunity for landowners to promote sites that could contribute towards East Suffolk’s future growth.
For those holding land on the edge of settlements, brownfield land or sites with potential for residential or mixed-use development, the process represents an opportunity to bring their proposals to the attention of the council’s planning policy team.
The lower housing threshold of three homes could also make the exercise relevant to landowners with smaller parcels of land that may previously have fallen outside the scope of larger development opportunities.
However, the potential for development will depend on a range of factors, including the site’s relationship with existing settlements, access to infrastructure, environmental considerations and its overall suitability for the council’s emerging development strategy.
Landowners considering a submission should therefore be prepared to provide information about their site’s location, proposed use, availability and potential capacity.
Opportunities for custom and self build
The Call for Sites may also present opportunities for those working in the custom and self build sector, particularly where land could accommodate smaller residential schemes or a collection of individually commissioned homes.
East Suffolk already has a policy framework supporting custom and self build housing through its existing Local Plans, alongside its adopted Custom and Self-build Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).
The SPD provides guidance on matters including serviced plots, design codes, plot passports, phasing and marketing strategies. Existing Local Plan policies also require developments of 100 homes or more to provide 5% of homes as serviced custom and self build plots.
As the new Local Plan develops, the identification of additional suitable land could help support future housing delivery, including opportunities for smaller developers and those looking to bring forward custom and self build projects.
For land promoters and developers, submitting a site with a clear understanding of its potential development capacity and possible delivery approach could help establish its credentials for further consideration.
Nevertheless, the Call for Sites is an initial information-gathering exercise rather than a dedicated allocation process for custom and self build housing. Sites will need to be assessed in the context of the council’s wider housing and spatial strategy.
What happens after a site is submitted?
The council will assess the sites put forward as part of the wider Local Plan preparation process. The submission of a site does not confer planning permission or guarantee its inclusion in the eventual plan.
The emerging Local Plan is expected to progress through further consultation and examination before adoption, currently anticipated in April 2029.
The council’s indicative timetable includes:
- October to November 2026: Reopened Call for Sites
- May to June 2027: Consultation on the proposed content and supporting evidence
- February to March 2028: Consultation on the proposed Local Plan
- September 2028 to March 2029: Examination
- April 2029: Anticipated Local Plan adoption
The process will provide further opportunities for stakeholders to engage with the emerging strategy and comment on proposed development allocations as the plan progresses.
How to submit a site
Landowners, developers, businesses, residents and other interested organisations can submit potential sites through East Suffolk Council’s Local Plan website.
Those interested in putting forward land should review the council’s submission requirements and consider the information needed to demonstrate the site’s potential for development.
The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Monday 16 November 2026.
Further information, including the online submission process, is available on the East Suffolk Council Local Plan Call for Sites webpage.
