Examination: Local Plan (archive)
Latest news
22 July 2021
At Full Council meeting on 22 July, the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2015 to 2035 was formally adopted. This follows the receipt of the Inspectors’ Report last week, which concludes that the plan is sound, subject to the Modifications recommended. Notification of the plan’s adoption, and a copy of the adoption statement, will be sent to all those involved in the process, or who have expressed an interest in the Local Plan, as well as the town and parish councils and statutory consultees. The adopted Local Plan, incorporating the Inspector's Modifications, is now available on the Council’s website and carries full weight in the determination of planning applications.
Adopted Local Plan
- Local Plan Adoption Statement
- Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2015 – 2035
- Local Plan - Policies Maps
- The Planning Inspectorate Report to Central Bedfordshire
- Schedule of Recommended Main Modifications (NB: this is an appendix to the Inspectors’ report)
- Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan Adoption Statement
- Central Bedfordshire Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Main Modifications Report March 2021
- Central Bedfordshire Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Main Modifications Report – Non-Technical Summary March 2021
Examination documents
The following is a list of documents submitted to the examination, since the submission of the Local Plan.
Please note: these documents cannot be shared by using the individual document link.
The Planning Inspectors
Planning Inspectors; Matthew Birkinshaw BA (Hons) Msc MRTPI and Helen Hockenhull BA (Hons) B.Pl MRTPI have been appointed to undertake an independent examination into the soundness of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan (the Plan).
The Inspectors' task is to consider the soundness of the submitted Plan, based on the criteria set out in paragraph 182 of the National Planning Policy Framework (the Framework). The relevant soundness criteria are whether the Plan is:
- positively prepared (based on a strategy that seeks to meet objectively assessed development and infrastructure requirements, including unmet requirements from neighbouring authorities where it is reasonable to do so and consistent with achieving sustainable development)
- justified (the most appropriate strategy when considered against the reasonable alternatives, based on proportionate evidence)
- effective (the plan should be deliverable over its period and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic priorities)
- consistent with national policy (the Plan should enable the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the Framework)
The Inspectors will take into account the representations submitted upon the Plan at pre-submission stage as far as they relate to soundness considerations. A number of informal debates will take place on the principal matters identified by the Inspectors these are termed Hearing Sessions.
Following the closure of the Hearings, the Inspectors will prepare a report to the Council with precise recommendations, these recommendations may include modifications to the Plan, if such a request is made by the Council.
Guidance notes have also been prepared which will help to explain many of the administrative and procedural arrangements.
Please note: these documents cannot be shared by using the individual document link.
The Programme Officer
The Programme Officer, Louise St John Howe, will act as the contact for any person who has an interest in the Examination and as a liaison between the Inspectors, Council and Representors.
She is an independent Officer of the Examination and works on behalf of the Inspectors to organise and manage the administrative and procedural elements of the Examination process. All statements will also be submitted through her.
Any matters that anyone wishes to raise with the Inspectors should be submitted via the Programme Officer.
Contact details
Louise St John Howe
Programme Officer
PO Services
PO Box 10965
Sudbury
Suffolk CO10 3BF
Email: louise@poservices.co.uk
Telephone: 07789 486419
Local Plan Hearing Sessions 2019
Written statements
Hearing Sessions closed on 25 July 2019 (view the final programme). Further information regarding the next stage of the examination process will be published in due course.
Hearing Sessions Venue and Timetable
Hearing Sessions closed on 25 July 2019.
View the Programme for the Hearing Sessions, and Matters, Issues and Questions.
Agendas
- agenda for Day 1 (21 May 2019)
- agenda for Day 2 (22 May 2019)
- agenda for Day 3 (23 May 2019)
- no agenda for Day 4
- agenda for Day 5 (11 June 2019)
- agenda for Day 6 (12 June 2019)
- agenda for Day 7 (13 June 2019)
- agenda for Day 8 (14 June 2019)
- no agenda for Day 9
- no agenda for Day 10
- agenda for Day 11 (20 June 2019)
- agenda for Day 13 (16 July 2019)
- no agenda for Day 14
- agenda for Day 15 (18 July 2019)
- no agenda for Day 18
Please note: these documents cannot be shared by using the individual document link.
Written statements
- Matter 1: Legal Compliance
- Matter 2: Objectively Assessed Need
- Matter 3: Affordable Housing Need
- Matter 4: Spatial Strategy
- Matter 5: Green Belt
- Matter 6: Strategic Sites (Policies SP3, SA1-SA5 and SE1-SE4)
- Matter 7: Small and Medium Allocations (Policies HA1 and HQ9)
- Matter 8: Meeting Housing Needs (Policies H1-H7)
- Matter 9: Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation (Policies SP8 and H8-H9)
- Matter 10: Housing Land Supply
- Matter 11: Economic Development (Policies EMP1-EMP4)
- Matter 12: Town Centre Development (Policies R1-R3)
- Matter 13: Transport (Policies T1-T6)
- Matter 14: Green Infrastructure and Open Space (Policies EE1-EE14)
- Matter 15: Sustainable Development (Policies SP2 and CC1-CC8)
- Matter 16: Design and Community Infrastructure (Policies HQ1-HQ9)
- Matter 17: Built Heritage (Policies HE1-HE3)
- Future Growth Locations
View Statements of Common Ground
Please note: these documents cannot be shared by using the individual document link.
Evidence Base Documents
In preparing the Plan the council both refer to and were informed by a number of documents that together form the 'Evidence Base' for the Examination. These documents can be accessed on the Submissions to Government page.
Opening speech
Councillor Richard Wenham, Deputy Leader of the council opened the local plan examination in public with the following speech.
View the Local Plan opening speech.
View the Local Plan closing statement.
Contact us
For more information or advice, please contact us.
Telephone: 0300 300 4353
Email: localplan@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk