Five month delay for Windsor & Maidenhead Borough Local Plan

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) Borough Local Plan will be delayed following a decision by Cabinet last Thursday (Sept 30). The decision to carry out further works on the Plan and then return to a Regulation 18 consultation will mean the final submission to the Inspectorate be in April 2017 instead of November this year.

This decision followed a legal review of the local plan process, carried out by barrister Mark Beard, which found it deficient in a number of respects, possibly impacting on its soundness. Cllr Derek Wilson, the portfolio holder for planning, updated members on the situation. He actually made no mention of the review of the Plan process instead referring to the Cabinet report which recommended one final public consultation before submitting the draft Plan to the Planning Inspectorate. In addition, he went on to say that further sites had come forward since the public consultation in summer 2015, including Maidenhead Golf Club, and he wanted the opportunity for everyone to have a final chance to comment on the draft Plan. The recommendation was passed.

This decision means that additional work will be undertaken now, with a revised Plan to be approved for Regulation 18 consultation by Cabinet on November 24. The public consultation will take place between December 2 and January 13. Following consideration of representations, the council will consider final Regulation 19 Local Plan publication on February 21 2017, with final submission to the Inspectorate expected in April.

Meeting papers and the minutes of the meeting (when completed) can be viewed on the RBWM website.