A yes vote has been cast for the Dunmow Neighbourhood Plan in the referendum today (November 3).

Out of 1,563 votes 1451 of them, 92.8 per cent, accepted the plan, and 111, 7.1 per cent, rejected the plan – and one vote was not accepted.

This means only around 20 per cent of the electorate who could have voted turned out to the polling booth.

It took four years to create from scratch and Dunmow is the first town in the district to produce one.

The document details what is allowed in the future of development in the town, including housing, community facilities, footpaths, sport and recreation, healthcare, and education.

Now it has been accepted by referendum the Uttlesford Local Plan must, by law, must be determined with it in mind – a draft of this is expected to come out in the new year.

Town Councillor David Beedle said: “It’s a good day, it’s brilliant and we are so pleased.

“At last we have in place a document that the district council have got to consider, have got to take into account on planning details concerning Dunmow.

“This is good for all of us.”

The Great Dunmow Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, chaired by Cllr. John Davey, said they would like to thank groups including Planning Aid England, The Rural Community Council of Essex, Modicum Planning, and Easton Planning, and people such as Daniel Bacon, who wrote the plan.