Emerging Local Plan - Fenland 50

On 15 December 2025, Fenland District Council's Full Council agreed to withdraw the previous emerging Local Plan. This followed changes to national planning rules and gives Fenland the chance to take a fresh approach. Our notification to commence was published on the 13 January 2026 and can be found here: Fenland 50 - Notice to Commence

By starting again under the new planning system, the Council can work with local communities to prepare a new Local Plan that looks ahead to the future and reflects what matters most to Fenland.

What is Fenland 50? 

Fenland 50 will guide how the district grows and changes up to 2050. It will influence decisions about where new homes, jobs and services go, how our towns and villages develop, and how we protect what makes Fenland special. 

The Local Plan will focus on getting the right homes in the right places - homes that local people can afford and that work for Fenland's towns and villages. It will support local skills, jobs and businesses, guide how water and flood risk are managed, and make sure development is backed by the services and infrastructure people rely on. Just as importantly, it will help protect what people value about where they live, so Fenland's towns, villages and countryside grow and change in ways that feel right for Fenland. 

Fenland 50 will be shaped by local views, alongside national planning policy and technical evidence.

How Fenland 50 is being prepared?

We are now at the early stages of preparing the new Local Plan. 

This includes:

• setting out the key stages and timetable: 
• gathering evidence 
• listening to local people, businesses and organisations before decisions are made.

The aim is to make sure Fenland 50 reflects local priorities and experiences, and provides a clear, long-term plan for the district.

Previous emerging Local Plan 

The previously emerging Local Plan has been withdrawn and no longer carries weight in planning decisions. 

Some of the technical evidence prepared to support it may still be relevant and may be used where appropriate as part of preparing Fenland 50. For transparency, the documents that supported the withdrawn plan remain available to view in the Document Library - Archive. These documents are provided for information only.

Staying involved 

This page will be updated as work on Fenland 50 progresses. 

Fenland District Council is committed to working with residents, businesses, landowners and community groups to ensure the new Local Plan provides a clear, locally led framework for Fenland's future.