Wokingham Borough Council has submitted the much-debated Local Plan Update 2023-2040: Proposed Submission Plan (LPU) to the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government for examination by an independent planning inspector.
The LPU sets out the vision and objectives, planning strategy, policies and site allocations proposed to manage development across Wokingham borough until 2040.
What happens next?
Following submission of the LPU, an inspector will be appointed by government to undertake an independent examination of the plan in relation to legal compliance and soundness matters as set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2023 and relevant regulations.
The proposed submission plan has been submitted under the transitional arrangements set out in the NPPF published in December 2024, meaning it will be examined against the previous version of the NPPF published in December 2023.
The inspector will take into account representations made at the Regulation 19 stage which took place between September 30 and November 13, 2024.
The council has appointed a programme officer for the examination who is independent, and works directly on behalf of the inspector to organise administrative and procedural matters.
The examination is not an opportunity to make further representations.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Conway said: “All local plans involve difficult choices.
“I understand why people living near development sites may feel unhappy, but the council has a duty to protect the borough from unplanned and speculative development – and we can only do that by having an up-to-date local plan that allocates enough land for new housing.
“I thank all those involved in preparing this new local plan, especially our planning officers, but also my predecessors as executive members for planning and the local plan.
“With a new plan in place, we will be better able to control development and to prepare for the future in a considered and orderly way.”
