Examination of the Local Plan and Further Guidance

How does the examination work?

Once the publication draft is finalised it, must be submitted to the Secretary of State who will appoint an Inspector or Inspectors to carry out an independent examination. This process is dealt with by the Planning Inspectorate.

The examination will assess whether the plan has been prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements and if it is sound. The four tests of soundness are set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The Inspector will consider the evidence provided by the Local Planning Authority to support the plan and any comments which have been put forward by local people and other interested parties. In most cases the examination will include hearing sessions which are held in public. The Inspector will work with the Local Planning Authority to determine the appropriate format for those sessions, which could be in-person/physical (‘real’), ‘virtual’ video or telephone conference, or a ‘blended’ mix of formats (i.e. a mix of in-person and virtual).

At the end of the examination the Inspector will send a report to the Local Planning Authority recommending whether or not they can adopt the plan. In most cases the report will recommend some changes that are necessary to allow the plan to be adopted. These are known as ‘main modifications’.

In carrying out the examination, the Inspector will be conscious of the benefits of having a robust and up to date plan adopted as quickly as possible and will apply the principles of openness, fairness and impartiality.


Taking part in the examination

Everyone who made a comment during the Regulation 19 consultation will have their comments provided to the Inspector.

If you asked to speak at the examination when making your comment, the Programme Officer will contact you when information about the hearing sessions is available. The Inspector will decide which matters will be discussed and who will be invited to each session.

Participation in hearing sessions is normally limited to people who:

  • made a Regulation 19 comment seeking a change to the Local Plan and asked to speak at the examination; or
  • have been specifically invited by the Inspector.

Members of the public can usually observe the hearing sessions, subject to the arrangements and capacity of the venue. Observers do not have a right to speak unless invited by the Inspector.


The Programme Officer

The Programme Officer is an independent point of contact for the examination. They provide administrative support to the Inspector and manage communication between the Inspector, the Council and examination participants.

All correspondence for the Inspector should be sent through the Programme Officer. The Inspector cannot discuss the examination directly with the Council, representors or members of the public outside the hearing session

How does the examination work?

Once the publication draft is finalised it, must be submitted to the Secretary of State who will appoint an Inspector or Inspectors to carry out an independent examination. This process is dealt with by the Planning Inspectorate.

The examination will assess whether the plan has been prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements and if it is sound. The four tests of soundness are set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The Inspector will consider the evidence provided by the Local Planning Authority to support the plan and any comments which have been put forward by local people and other interested parties. In most cases the examination will include hearing sessions which are held in public. The Inspector will work with the Local Planning Authority to determine the appropriate format for those sessions, which could be in-person/physical (‘real’), ‘virtual’ video or telephone conference, or a ‘blended’ mix of formats (i.e. a mix of in-person and virtual).

At the end of the examination the Inspector will send a report to the Local Planning Authority recommending whether or not they can adopt the plan. In most cases the report will recommend some changes that are necessary to allow the plan to be adopted. These are known as ‘main modifications’.

In carrying out the examination, the Inspector will be conscious of the benefits of having a robust and up to date plan adopted as quickly as possible and will apply the principles of openness, fairness and impartiality.


Taking part in the examination

Everyone who made a comment during the Regulation 19 consultation will have their comments provided to the Inspector.

If you asked to speak at the examination when making your comment, the Programme Officer will contact you when information about the hearing sessions is available. The Inspector will decide which matters will be discussed and who will be invited to each session.

Participation in hearing sessions is normally limited to people who:

  • made a Regulation 19 comment seeking a change to the Local Plan and asked to speak at the examination; or
  • have been specifically invited by the Inspector.

Members of the public can usually observe the hearing sessions, subject to the arrangements and capacity of the venue. Observers do not have a right to speak unless invited by the Inspector.


The Programme Officer

The Programme Officer is an independent point of contact for the examination. They provide administrative support to the Inspector and manage communication between the Inspector, the Council and examination participants.

All correspondence for the Inspector should be sent through the Programme Officer. The Inspector cannot discuss the examination directly with the Council, representors or members of the public outside the hearing session