Local Plan updates – March 2019

Ashford –On 21 February 2019 the council endorsed the Inspectors’ Report and the appended set of recommended Main Modifications to the ‘Local Plan to 2030’ and adopted the ‘Local Plan to 2030’ as part of the Development Plan for the borough.

Aylesbury Vale – The Council has received Inspector’s response to the points raised in their letter following the publication of his Interim findings. The Council is now finalising their onward timetable including when the proposed modifications to the Plan will be published for public consultation. The adoption of the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan is planned to be in 2019.

Basildon – Consultation on the Revised Publication Local Plan has closed, and responses are now being processed. All the representations received will be collated and a Statement of Issues will be produced and submitted alongside the Revised Publication Local Plan and all supporting documents to the Government and sent to the Planning Inspector for consideration as part of the Examination in Public. It is the Council’s aim to do this by the end of March 2019.

Bexley – The Council is now consulting on the preferred approaches to the matters to be contained within the new Local Plan (Reg 18 consultation). Any comments must reach the Council by Sunday 31 March 2019.

Braintree – The Local Plan examination is currently paused as work is undertaken on the additional evidence required by the Planning Inspector. According to the Local Development Scheme approved in January 2019, hearings for the Shared Strategic Plan (Section 1) are expected in Autumn 2019 and for Braintree District Specific Local Plan (Section 2) in Spring / Summer 2020.

Brentwood – Brentwood’s Pre-Submission Local Plan was approved. The public consultation is closing on 19 March 2019.

Bromley – The Local Plan for Bromley was adopted on 16 January 2019.

Broxbourne –The Council has received Inspector’s Post Hearings Advice and will now consider how the Plan could be modified accordingly.

Cambridge and East Cambs – Following lack of progress with regards to preparation and consultation on main modifications, The Council, on 21 February 2018, withdrew the emerging Local Plan for East Cambridgeshire from its examination.

Castle Point – In November 2018 the Council resolved to not proceed with the Pre-Publication Local Plan and is now in discussions with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government with regards to the next steps. It is likely MHCLG will give directions to overturn the council’s decision and proceed with the draft local plan submission, similar to the path taken at Thanet and Wirral.

Central Beds – Further additional evidence on the duty to co-operate, landscape, heritage and transport and an update to the Sustainability Appraisal was submitted by the Council on 28th January 2019 at Inspector’s request. The hearings are now expected to commence in May 2019.

Chelmsford – The Independent Examination hearing sessions took place in November and December 2018. The Inspector’s post hearing advice is that the plan could be found sound subject to main modifications (MMs). She set out her views on those matters where further MMs are necessary and next steps and the administrative arrangements. The Council’s response was due on 22 February.

Cherwell – The Inspector resumed the Hearing Sessions on Tuesday 5th February 2019.  The council is also preparing a Part 2 to the Adopted Local Plan 2011-2031 (Part 1) which will contain non-strategic site allocations and development management policies.

Chiltern and South Bucks – The Call for Sites closed on 14 January 2019 and will be used to update the Council’s Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment, which will be part of the evidence base for the new Local Plan. Publication of the Local Plan for consultation prior to its submission for an examination in public is anticipated to be in spring/summer 2019.

Colchester – The Local Plan examination is currently paused as work is undertaken on the additional evidence required by the Planning Inspector. According to the Local Development Scheme approved in January 2019, hearings for the Shared Strategic Plan (Section 1) are expected in Autumn 2019.

Dacorum – A pre-submission Draft Plan is expected in August 2019 while the Council continues undertaking the Duty to Co-operate and public and stakeholder engagement.

Dartford – Regulation 18 public consultation was held in June/ July 2018. Public involvement in the next stage in drafting the Local Plan is expected in summer 2019.

Dover – Regulation 18 consultation is planned for July/August 2019, with adoption expected in February 2021.

East Herts – East Herts’ District Plan was adopted at an Extraordinary Council on the 23 October 2018.

Elmbridge – On 30 October 2018, a new Local Development Scheme was approved and sets out the work programme up to 2021. Regulation 18 consultation is now planned for August/September 2019.

Epping Forest – The Local Plan has been submitted for approval and Ms. Louise Phillips from the Planning Inspectorate has been appointed to carry out the independent Examination. The hearing sessions opened on Tuesday 12 February and will run until Thursday 23 May 2019.

Epsom and Ewell – Pre-Submission Public Consultation is planned for late 2019.

Folkestone and Hythe – The Council submitted their Places and Policies Local Plan to the Secretary of State on the 28th September 2018 for independent examination. The Planning Inspectorate has appointed Mr Jameson Bridgwater to oversee the examination process.

Gravesham – After reviewing responses received to Regulation 18 (Stage 1) Part 1 Site Allocations, the council is gathering further evidence and together with the consideration of responses received will prepare Regulation 18 Part 2 consultation documents which will be consulted upon in Autumn 2019.

Guildford – On the conclusion of the Local Plan hearing that took place on 12 and 13 February the Inspector had confirmed that, subject to final checks and his report, the Guildford Borough Local Plan was sound.  The Inspector will be issuing the final report shortly and the formal adoption process will also be put in place as quickly as possible.

Harlow – The Harlow Local Development Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State for examination in public on 19 October 2018. David Reed BSc DipTP DMS MRTPI has been appointed by the Secretary of State to undertake the independent examination of the Plan. Provisionally the Examination hearing sessions will be held between 26 March and 4 April 2019.

Havering – Following the hearings which took take place between the 9th and 19th of October 2018, the examination was suspended to allow the Council to complete the required additional work. The reconvened examination is due to take place on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 May. The inspector expects to advise of revised matters and issues and guidance notes by 16 April.

Hertsmere – The council is undertaking targeted public and stakeholder engagement in preparing the plan (Reg 18). Issues and options consultation is expected in March 2020.

Maidstone – New Local Plan was formally adopted at Full Council on 25 October 2017. The Council is already preparing its review, with a Regulation 18 – scoping/options consultation planned for summer 2019.

Maldon – The Secretary of State Approved the Maldon District Local Development Plan on 21 July 2017. A review is to be completed by 2022.

Medway – The council published updated Local Development Scheme in December 2018. Regulation 19 – Publication of draft plan is planned for Summer 2019.

Milton Keynes – Following the six week consultation between the 31 October and 12 December 2018 on the proposed schedule of main modifications, the Inspector found that Plan:MK meets the criteria for soundness, provided the main modifications are included. The schedule of modifications have been incorporated into the final version of Plan:MK, and it will now be submitted to Cabinet and Council in March for approval and formal adoption.

Mole Valley – Reg. 18 Preferred Options consultation to take place in June 2019 (delayed by May 2018 local elections), and Reg. 19 in Winter 2019/20.

North Hertfordshire – Following the hearing sessions into the Local Plan, the Inspector published his proposed Main Modifications to the plan and the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal. Consultation on the Main modifications runs from Thursday 3 January to Monday 4 March 2019.

Oxford City – The consultation on Draft Plan Regulation 19 ran until 28th December 2018. The council is now processing the representations received and will submit the Secretary of State for examination by the end of March.

Reigate and Banstead – Following submission of the draft Development Management Plan in May, examination hearings ran until 9^th November 2018. The council made the amendments requested and heard back from the inspector on 18th January with a letter setting out the suggested main modifications. The Council expects to commence public consultation on the Main Modifications on 6 March 2019, closing at on Thursday 18 April.

Rochford – Preferred Options Document public consultation (Regulation 18) is planned for October/November 2019.

Runnymede – The Council submitted the Runnymede Local Plan to the Secretary of State on 31st July. Hearing sessions took place in November 2018, with further hearings at the end of February 2019.  Following the closure of the Examination, the Inspector will prepare a report to the Council with precise recommendations which may include modifications to the Plan.

Sevenoaks – The council consulted on the Regulation 19 Proposed Submission Version of the Local Plan until 3^rd February 2019. The plan will be submitted to the Government’s Planning Inspector in Spring 2019.

Southend-on-Sea – Council intends to undertake consultation on Local Plan Issues and Options in Spring 2019.

South Northamptonshire – The Council submitted the Part 2 Local Plan to the Secretary of State on 22 January 2019. On 13^th February a Planning Inspector, GJ Fort BA (Hons) PGDip LLM MCD MRTPI, was appointed to conduct the examination into the soundness of the submitted plan. Hearing dates have not yet been announced.

South Oxfordshire – Latest draft version of plan was approved at Council on 20 December 2018. The council undertook a Regulation 19 consultation from 7 January to 18 February 2019, with a view to submit to the Secretary of State in March 2019.

Spelthorne – The Council invited comments on the draft Site Selection Methodology, with the consultation finishing 28 January 2019. Consultation on Preferred Options (also Reg. 18) is scheduled for June-July 2019.

St Albans – Reg. 19 consultation ran until 17th October 2018. All valid representations are now being considered by the Council with the aim to submit for independent public examination in March 2019.

Stevenage – Still awaiting the secretary of state’s permission to move forward with its local plan following the holding direction of November 2017, after concerns were raised by Stevenage Tory MP Stephen McPartland. In January 2019, the council launched judicial review proceedings to challenge the continuation of the holding direction.

Surrey Heath – The Draft Surrey Heath Local Plan Issues and Options/Preferred Options Consultation finished on 30th July 2018, and the Pre-submission Consultation is scheduled for June 2019.

Swale – The Council has recently published its Local Development Scheme which sets out the timetable for preparing the next Local Plan, with plans to hold Reg. 18 consultation in Oct – Dec 2019.

Tandridge – The Council submitted its local plan to the Planning Inspectorate for examination on Friday 18 January 2019. Inspector Philip Lewis BA (Hons) MA MRTPI has been appointed to conduct the examination.

Tendring – Tendring, Braintree and Colchester’s Local Plan share an identical Section 1, which was considered through a joint examination in public in 2018. This has currently been paused by the Planning Inspector to allow the North Essex Authorities to carry out further work. EiP will resume when the work has been completed and is expected to take place in Autumn 2019. Tendring-specific policies and allocations can be found within Section 2 of the Local Plan, which will be finalised following Section 1 and is expected to be submitted in Spring 2020.

Thanet – The Council submitted the draft Local Plan to the Secretary of State on 30th October 2018 for independent examination. Independent Inspectors have been appointed and sent Initial Questions for Examination to the council on 17^th December, to which the council responded on 11 January. Hearing dates are scheduled for April-May 2019.

Three Rivers – Potential Sites Consultation ran between 26 October and 7 December 2018. Publication stage is planned for Autumn 2019.

Thurrock – Reg. 18 (Issues and Options Stage 2: Spatial Options and Sites) took place in July 2018. Reg. 19 was planned for September 2019 but has been delayed following the publication of the revised NPPF.

Tonbridge and Malling – The Reg. 19 consultation ran until 19th November 2018 and the council submitted its local plan to the secretary of state on 23rd January 2019. Inspectors Simon Berkeley BA MA MRTPI and Luke Fleming BSc (Hons) MRTPI have now been appointed but hearing dates have yet to be announced.

Tunbridge Wells – Preferred Options Reg. 18 consultation is completed. Consultation on a Pre-Submission Local Plan (Reg. 19) will take place from 30^th March 2020.

Uttlesford – Consultation on the Addendum of Focussed Changes to the Regulation 19 Local Plan ran until 27 November 2018. The plan was submitted on 18 January 2019 to the Secretary of State and Inspectors have been appointed to carry out an independent examination. The Inspectors issued a series of Initial Questions to the Council which it responded to by 25 February; dates of hearing sessions have not yet been announced.

Vale of White Horse – Hearings for the Local Plan 2031 Part 2 closed in September 2018 and the inspector outlined suggested main modifications on 19^th December. Public consultation on the modifications is set for 18^th February to 1^st April.

Watford – Issues and Options consultation ran from Friday 7 September to Friday 19 October. First draft local plan is expected in Autumn 2019.

Waverley – The council is completing additional work on the Local Plan Part 2 and it is expected that the Reg. 19 Consultation will take place in June/July 2019, with submission in Winter 2019.

Welwyn Hatfield – Stage 5 of the hearing sessions took place on 6-7th November 2018. The Stage 6 hearing sessions which were provisionally set for early December 2018 are now likely to take place in Autumn 2019. Following a request from the Inspector, the council held a further call for sites ending 4 February 2019. On 10 February, the Inspector requested a more detailed examination timetable from the council.

Woking – Site Allocations DPD consultation (Reg. 19) ran until 17 December 2018 and submission to Secretary of State is expected in June/July 2019.

Wycombe – Submitted for public examination in March 2018 and the final scheduled hearing session took place on September 26th. The consultation on proposed modifications will run from 13 February 2019 and to 27 March 2019. Following the close of the consultation all representations received will be passed to the Inspector for consideration.