Examination of the West Berkshire Local Plan Review 2022-2039

The Local Plan Review (LPR) was submitted to the Secretary of State for Independent examination on 31 March 2023.  A Regulation 22 Statement of Fact [132KB] has been produced setting out details of the submission and where the submission documents can be found.

The Inspector

Planning Inspector, William Fieldhouse BA(Hons) MA MRTPI, has been appointed to undertake an indpendent examination into the soundness of the LPR. 

The Inspector's task will be to consider the soundness and legal compliance of the submitted LPR, based on the criteria set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021 (the Framework) and associated regulations, namely the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Localism Act 2011 and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.​

The Inspector will take into account the representations submitted upon the Regulation 19 Draft LPR as far as they relate to soundness considerations. A number of informal debates will take place on the principal matters identified by the Inspector these are termed Hearing Sessions.​

At the end of the Examination, the Inspector will prepare a report to the Council with precise recommendations, these recommendations may include modifications to the LPR, if such a request is made by the Council.

The Inspector has prepared a  Guidance Note [190KB] to help people understand the process. A Procedural Guidance for Local Plans has also been produced by the Planning Inspectorate, together with a short guide aimed at those participating in a local plan examination for the first time.

The Programme Officer

The Programme Officer, Ian Kemp, will act as the contact for any person who has an interest in the Examination and as a liaison between the Inspector, Council and Representors.

He 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.

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

Contact details:

Ian Kemp
Programme Officer
PO Box 241
Droitwich
WR9 1DW

Mobile: 0772 300 9166

Email: ian@localplanservices.co.uk

Mr Kemp will be contacting all Representors with details of the Examination process in due course.

Hearing Sessions Venue and Timetable

A Programme for the Hearing Sessions and matters to be discussed will appear here once finalised. The Hearings will be public events held at Shaw House, Church Road, Shaw, Newbury, RG14 2DR. They are provisionally expected to take place between September and November 2023. 

If you advised us through the consultation on the Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) LPR that you wanted to appear at the hearing sessions, you will be notified in due course by the Programme Officer of the issues that the appointed Inspector wishes to explore further, the relevant dates, and procedures. Please note that this is not an opportunity to make further representations.

Evidence Base Documents and Examination Library

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 through the Examination Library on the dedicated examination webpage which is being hosted by the Programme Officer.