Local plan back in consultation

Borough: Inspector states that ‘modifications needed’

The Royal Borough will have to send parts of its amended borough local plan out for consultation again following two months of hearings.

The Borough Local Plan examination hearings, which commenced on Monday, October 5, came to a close on Wednesday, December 9.

In her closing remarks, inspector Louise Phillips stated that the council needed to make a number of ‘main modifications’ to its plan, which would then need to be sent out for another public consultation.

She said: “I have indicated during several of the hearings that main modifications are needed to make the plan sound.

“There remain a few issues that I need to give careful thought to and reflect upon all the evidence that I’ve read and heard at the hearings before I can advise the council about whether I consider further main modifica

tions to be necessary.

“While all the relevant changes must be recorded as main modifications only those which require amendment following the hearings will need to be consulted upon again because those that don’t require amendments have been consulted upon already and any that need to be deleted altogether will just fall away.”

She added that once a consultation has taken place, she will then be able to complete her final report. A date has not yet been set for when this would be.

The council published its amended Borough Local Plan in October 2019, which was intended to guide developments in the borough until 2033, and seeks to build thousands of new homes.

At the hearing, Ms Philips stated that she would no longer be taking any more submissions, with an exception for comments from the Environment Agency on the flood report, which are due in January.

Giving his own closing remarks, Cllr David Coppinger (Con, Bray), the Royal Borough’s lead member for planning, said: “On the council’s behalf I must once again thank you Madam Inspector, for the constructive, helpful and pragmatic approach to the conduct of these hearings. It has been very interesting to watch as I have done on most days.

“We understand that you now need to give further thought to a number of important issues discussed in the sessions.

“Please be assured that the council remains committed to providing you with the information and assistance you need to progress the examination and make your recommendation regarding the adoption of the plan.”

Speed read...

The hearings on the council’s Borough Local Plan have come to a close. The inspector stated that parts of the plan need to go back to consultation.