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Local Plan review (2021-2040) examination

Latest Examination News (December 2024)

Consultations on Parts 1 and 2 of the proposed Main Modifications (MMs) to the Local Plan Review have now closed, and representations on the MMs have been submitted to the Inspectors, for their consideration in preparing their final Report on the Examination. Further information is available through the Latest Examination News page.

The Inspectors’ Report is expected to be submitted to the Council in January 2025, and will be published thereafter. Publication of the Inspectors’ Report represents the end of the Local Plan examination.

All other documents relating to the Examination are available to view in the Examination Library.

Main Modifications Part 2 consultation (October to November 2024)

The Main Modifications Part 2 consultation ran for 9 weeks, from 17 October - 29 November 2024 (inclusive). Consultation materials are available to view below.

  1. Schedule of Main Modifications Part 2 to the Local Plan (Gypsy, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople policies) and
  2. Schedule of Policy Map Modifications (as a result of the above)

The Main Modifications Part 2 is supported by the following evidence base:

  1. Sustainability Appraisal update (Capita, October 2024)
  2. Habitat Regulations Assessment (Capita, October 2024)
  3. Site Assessment for Proposed Site GT15 (Actions 147 and 148)

The Schedule of Policy Map Modifications has implications for the Policies Map. Several sheet maps are being updated accordingly - the versions (showing proposed Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople site allocations) are available to view on our Main Modifications to Policies Map sheets page.

Main Modifications Part 1 consultation (August - October 2024)

The Main Modifications Part 1 consultation ran for 8 weeks, from 7 August – 2 October 2024 (inclusive). Consultation materials are available to view below.

  1. Schedule of Main Modifications Part 1 (July 2024)
    1. Appendix 1 – Part 1 Inset Map changes (sections 1-9)
    2. Appendix 2 – Part 1 Inset Map changes (section 10-12)
    3. Appendix 3 – Part 1 Inset Map changes (section 12-13)
    4. Appendix 4 – Part 1 Inset Map changes (section 14)
    5. Appendix 5 – Part 1 Inset Map changes (section 15)
  2. Schedule of Main Modifications to the Policies Map (July 2024)
    1. Submission version of the Policies Map is available to view
    2. Policies Map (incorporating Main Modifications) is available to view on the consultation portal
  3. Schedule of Additional Modifications (July 2024)

The Main Modifications Part 1 is supported by the following evidence base:

  1. Sustainability Appraisal update (JBA, June 2024)
  2. Habitat Regulations Assessment (Footprint Ecology, July 2024)
    1. HRA Appendix 3 Addendum
  3. Housing Trajectory update April 2024

Examination Hearings

The Examination Hearing sessions for all matters and issues have been completed, with the final Hearing session, on Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople’s accommodation, taking place in early September 2024. The Inspectors formally closed the Examination Hearing on 3 September 2024.

Examination Library

Examination documents are available through the Examination Library index.

As the Local Plan examination progresses, other examination documents will be added to the relevant page(s), as necessary.

Other information regarding the Local Plan Review is available on our Local Plan Review (2016 to 2036) page.

Planning Inspectors

Planning Inspectors Karen Baker DipTP MA DipMP MRTPI and Mike Hayden BSc DipTP MRTPI have been appointed by the Secretary of State, to conduct the independent Examination of the Local Plan Review. The Inspectors' task is to consider whether the Council has complied with the legal requirements in preparing the Local Plan Review and whether the submitted Plan is sound, based on the criteria set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021 (the Framework).

The Inspectors will take into account the representations made in response to the Regulation 19 consultation on the Plan (August September 2021), as far as they relate to soundness and legal compliance considerations. It is likely that a Hearing will take place to discuss the principal matters of soundness identified by the Inspectors, in the form of a series of informal round table discussions. Further details of any Hearing sessions will be notified and added to the website in due course.

At the end of the Examination, the Inspectors will prepare a report to the Council with precise recommendations. It is likely to include main modifications to the Plan to make it sound or legally compliant.

Programme Officer

The Programme Officer, Annette Feeney, 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 Inspector to organise and manage the administrative and procedural elements of the Examination process. All examination documents will also be submitted through the Programme Officer.

Any matters that anyone wishes to raise with the Inspectors should be submitted via the Programme Officer.

Contact details

Annette Feeney
Programme Officer c/o
Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk
King’s Court Chapel Street
King’s Lynn
PE30 1EX
Mobile: 07775 771026
Email: annette.feeney@west-norfolk.gov.uk