Local Plan Updates – May 2020

Ashford –The Ashford Local Plan 2030 was adopted in February 2019. 

Aylesbury Vale – Following completion of the examination hearings and the publication of the Inspector’s Interim Findings the Council has worked with the Inspector to agree the modifications to the plan that are necessary to make it sound. Those modifications were subject to public consultation which closed on the 17th December 2019.  Aylesbury Vale will become part of the Bucks unitary authority on 1st April, but any consolidation of local plans will not happen immediately.  

Basildon – Local Plan examination has been paused while Basildon Council and Essex County Council consider the effects of DEFRA’s direction on air quality for the A127 and the impact new development will have. Basildon Council likely to respond to DEFRA within weeks, and the plan can then go to EiP.  

Bexley – Reg 18 consultation has now closed, and publication of the Draft Local Plan is planned for summer 2020. The Council is now consulting on the preferred approaches to the matters to be contained within the new Local Plan, and are inviting local people, businesses, landowners and developers to give their views on the proposed content.  

Braintree – see North Essex Authorities (below) 

Brentwood – The Brentwood Local Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination on 14 February 2020. 

Broxbourne – The Local Plan Inspector’s final report on the soundness of the Broxbourne Local Plan 2018-2033 was published on 14 April 2020. This concluded that the Local Plan is sound with modifications. A report in respect of the adoption of the Local Plan will be presented to Council in due course.  

East Cambridgeshire – Following receipt of the Inspector’s modifications, East Cambridgeshire District Council voted to withdraw the emerging Local Plan at its February 2019 Council meeting.  The East Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2015 will remain the adopted Local Plan for the district. 

Castle Point – The Council is currently in the process of assessing representations received on the Pre-submission Local Plan during the consultation, which ran from the 16 December 2019 to the 14 February 2020.  

Central Beds – Hearing Sessions closed on 25 July 2019. During the hearing sessions, several modifications required to make the plan sound were discussed. These have now been drafted and sent to the Inspectors. All the intended changes to the Local Plan proposed by the Council will be published in due course, but due to impact of COVID-19 there has been delay.  

Chelmsford – The inspector has found that the Chelmsford Local Plan is sound.  An Extraordinary Meeting of the Council  was due be held on Tuesday 31 March to consider adopting the Local Plan, however due to the COVID-19 outbreak, all scheduled meetings have been postponed until further notice.  

Cherwell – Consultation on the Proposed Main Modifications to the Partial Review of the adopted Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 closed on Friday 20 December 2019. Consultation on the Proposed Main Modifications to the Partial Review of the adopted Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 closed on Friday 20 December 2019. The Main Modifications with all the supporting documents relevant to their preparation were submitted to the Inspector on Tuesday 25 February 2020 following approval at Special Executive and Full Council meetings on Monday 24 February 2020. 

Chiltern and South Bucks – The Chiltern and South Bucks Local Plan 2036 was submitted for independent examination on 26 September 2019. The Stage 1 Hearing Sessions due to commence on Tuesday 17 March have been postponed due to Covid-19.  

Colchester – See North Essex Authorities (below).  

Dacorum – Latest LDS, was approved on 21 April 2020 and sets out our programme for preparing development plan documents up to 2022. It’s hoped that the new Local Plan will be adopted in June 2022.  

Dartford – Regulation 18 public consultation was held in June/July. A full evaluation of proposals against environmental, social and economic indicators and the Sustainability Appraisal is out for consultation. Public responses ran till midday on Friday 21st February 2020. The council are now using public input and technical studies to put together a full draft Local Plan.  

Dover – The council will be in the evidence gathering stage until June 2020. Consultation on draft Local Plan (Regulation 18) is expected to take place between June 2020 – July 2020 (min 6 weeks). Local Plan examinations are expected to take place in Jan 2022 with the adoption of the Local Plan in April 2022.  

Elmbridge – The Local Plan vision, objectives and direction for development management policies consultation 2020 is now closed. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the councils original timetable has faced delays and setbacks. It was expected for Officers to be in a position to submit a draft local plan to Cabinet in June and to the full Council in July.  It included a final public consultation in September. Unfortunately, a number of external consultants have been furloughed in response to the pandemic.  As a result, they have not been able to submit their reports or inform the council when they will be able to submit them.   

Epping Forest – The local plan is currently stuck due to disagreements between the council, Natural England and the Conservators of Epping Forest over mitigation for increased leisure use new development would need. Following the publication of Inspector’s interim findings, The Council have written to the Inspector giving an update on the progress of the Actions set out in her Advice after the Hearings.  

Epsom and Ewell – Final Issues & Options Consultation (Regulation 18 Part 2) is planned for May – June 2020.  

Folkestone and Hythe – Folkestone & Hythe District Council (FHDC) ran a consultation on the Proposed Main Modifications from 13 January 2020 to 24 February 2020.  This was on behalf of Jameson Bridgwater MRTPI, the Local Plan Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State. The comments have been sent to the Planning Inspector who will finalise his report.   

Gravesham – The publication of the Pre-Submission Document, final Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment (Reg 19 and 20) is scheduled for September 2020.  

Harlow – Due to the coronavirus pandemic, libraries and other public buildings in Harlow – where documents relating to the Main Modifications consultation could be viewed – have closed until further notice. Harlow Council will send relevant hard documents, free of charge, to anyone who requests them. The consultation period has also been extended and it now closes on Sunday 31 May 2020.  

Hart – The Hart Local Plan (Strategy and Sites)2032 was adopted on 30 April 2020 at the Council’s first “virtual” meeting. 

Havering – Council is working with the Inspector to finalise matters for the consultation on the Main Modifications. Awaiting further information on when this will begin, it is likely to begin in Early 2020.  

Hertsmere – The council is working to prepare evidence for reg 19, ready for the consultation to take place early 2021.  

London Plan – A panel of inspectors have been appointed to review the plan and examination hearings concluded in May 2019. The inspectors’ report was published on 8 October 2019. The Mayor has considered the Inspectors’ recommendations and, on the 9th December 2019, issued to the Secretary of State his intension to publish the London Plan. A response from the SoS with directions were received on 13 March 2020.  

Maidstone –Maidstone Borough Council has adopted its local plan in October 2017. The council has started its review with a call for sites and will determine the ones which are suitable for development.  

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 – A public consultation was held on the development strategy between 16 March and 25 June. The responses will be used to inform the next stage. The publication of the draft Local Plan will be in summer 2020. Subject to outcomes of an independent examination by a planning inspector, Medway’s Local Plan will be adopted in 2021. 

Milton Keynes – Plan MK, the local plan setting out how Milton Keynes will grow until 2031, was approved for adoption by full council in March 2019.  

Mole Valley – Public consultation on the draft Future Mole Valley Local Plan took place between 3 February and 23 March 2020.  

North Essex Authorities (Braintree, Colchester and Tendring) – North Essex Authorities submitted the new evidence to the Planning Inspector on 4 October 2019 and have been responding to various clarification questions from the Inspector. Examination hearings reopened on 14 January 2020 and ran for two weeks. The inspector’s further thoughts are awaited.   

North Hertfordshire – Following the consultation on the Main Modifications and associated documents, the Inspector has arranged dates for further hearing sessions. However, The Inspector has cancelled the hearing sessions scheduled to take place during w/c 16 March, w/c 23 March and 7/8 April due to the situation with COVID-19.  

Oxford City – Hearing Sessions closed on 19th December 2019. The Inspectors’ Interim conclusions have been submitted to the Council. The inspectors’ interim conclusions found that the plan meets the requirements for legal compliance and have not found it necessary to devote hearing sessions. The council are invited residents to a 6-week consultation period – from Friday 14 February to Friday 27 March 2020. 

Rochford – Rochford DC is working on evidence for its Reg 18 consultation, which will go to consultation later this year. It will produce a joint part 1 local plan with Southend to cover the cross-border matters, specifically a new garden community.   

Runnymede – On the 3rd of March 2020 the inspector received the responses to the consultation on the draft proposed main modifications to the Plan. The inspector is a now considering these. Some of the responses raised issues about the main modifications process and the next steps in the examination and the inspector will provide a further update on these matters as soon as possible. 

Sevenoaks – Sevenoaks District Council has begun Judicial Review proceedings after the Government Planning Inspector refused to endorse its new Local Plan.  

Southend-on-Sea – Issues and Options consultation closed on 2 April 2019, with preferred approach consultation estimated for Spring / Summer 2020. Southend is also undertaking a joint part 1 local plan with Rochford to cover the proposed cross-border garden community. 

South Essex Joint Strategic Plan (SEP) – this is a strategic statutory local plan prepared jointly by Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend and Thurrock. Reg 18 issues consultation is expected to take place later this year.  

South Northamptonshire – The South Northamptonshire (Part 2) Local Plan Regulation 19 Submission Draft Modifications Consultation closed at 00:01 on Friday 3rd April 2020. All Responses received by the deadline will be forwarded to the Inspector for consideration in the ongoing examination of the Plan.  

South Oxfordshire – On Friday 13 March Emran Mian, Director General from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government sent a letter to Mark Stone, Chief Executive of South Oxfordshire District Council, stating the SoS has directed you to progress the plan through to adoption by December 2020 and expects it to be met.  

Spelthorne – The Local Plan Preferred Options consultation (Regulation 18) ended on Tuesday 21 January 2020. This set out the Council’s draft policies and possible sites to allocate for development up to 2035. Since the consultation closed, officers have been reviewing all of the representations received and in due course amendments to the emerging Local Plan will be made where appropriate. However, the COVID-19 situation may mean that the production of the response document may take longer than anticipated.  

St Albans – The Inspectors’ Post Hearing letter was received by the council, expressing serious concerns on the soundness of the plan. The council is considering its next steps before responding to the letter.  

Surrey Heath – The Council is in the process of updating the timetable for the emerging Local Plan (Local Development Scheme). The next consultation on the emerging Local Plan will take place later this year.  

Swale – The Council held Reg. 18 consultation between Oct – Dec 2019. The responses are now being considered. The council has published the Local Development Scheme shortly which sets out the timetable for preparing the next Local Plan.  

Tandridge – The public hearing sessions for the Local Plan concluded on 28 November 2019. The Planning Inspector is now considering all information presented to him and he will respond to the Council in due course. 

Tendring – See North Essex Authorities (above).  

Thanet – The Council received the Inspectors’ Report on 23 March 2020, into the draft Thanet Local Plan. The report recommended Main Modifications to make the plan ‘sound’. On 15th April 2020, the Cabinet report relating to the Local Plan Inspectors’ Report has now been published, with a draft version of the final Local Plan, with the Inspectors’ modifications included.  

Three Rivers – The consultation on the Potential Sites Document has now closed. All representations received will be reviewed. As a result of this consultation a further 27 sites were submitted and will be included in the Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment informing the emerging Local Plan. Publication is set to take place in spring/summer 2020.  

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. The updated Local Development Scheme has now been published, with a timetable which suggests hearings will September 2020.  

Tonbridge and Malling – The Stage 1 Hearing Sessions were due to take place over five days, opening on Tuesday 19 May at 10.00am. However, have had to be postponed due to Coronavirus. 

Tunbridge Wells – Consultation on the Draft Local Plan and the Sustainability Appraisal took place between 20 September and 15 November 2019. Response reports containing all duly made comments on the Draft Local Plan (i.e. made during the consultation period) are available for viewing. 

Uttlesford – Councillors have decided to withdraw the Local Plan and start work on preparing a new plan for the district at an Extraordinary Council Meeting (ECM) on Thursday 30 April.  

Vale of White Horse – The Local Plan 2031 Part 2 was adopted by Full Council on Wednesday 9 October 2019. 

Watford – The Council is consulted on the First Draft Watford Local Plan 2020-2036. The consultation ended on 8th November 2019. Public consultation for the Final Draft Local Plan was expected to take place in May 2020, but due to the current pandemic, it will take place sometime later in the year, with submission expected to take place next year.  

Waverley – The Preferred Options consultation represents the second key stage in the development of LPP2.  It ran from Friday 25 May to Monday 9 July 2018. The responses are currently being reviewed with publication expected in May to mid-June 2020. 

Welwyn Hatfield – Due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) the Stage 8 hearing sessions scheduled for Monday 11 May to Friday 15 May have been postponed. 

Woking – The Council submitted the Site Allocations DPD and its supporting documents to the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 31 July 2019. The Inspector indicated provisional dates for the Examination hearing sessions, which were held in the weeks commencing 2 and 9 December 2019. Representations received during consultation on the Annual Monitoring Report (which closed on 9 March 2020) are available.  

Wycombe – The Full Council considered the Inspector’s Report and adopted the Plan at special meeting on 19 August 2019. The council have now received the Planning Inspector’s report on the Wycombe District Local Plan. The Inspector’s report concludes that the Wycombe District Local Plan provides an appropriate basis for the planning of the Wycombe District, subject to a number of changes known as ‘Main Modifications’.