East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2 - Examination
Local Plan Examination 2021
The East Northamptonshire Local Plan completed consultation under Regulation 19 of the Town and County Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 on 19 March 2021. On 29 March 2021 it was submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for independent examination, in accordance with (Regulation 22).
The Planning Inspectorate have produced a Procedure Guide for Local Plan Examinations which provides detailed practical advice and a short guide aimed at those participating in a local plan examination for the first time.
Examination
Latest News
Main Modifications Consultation
The Council will be consulting on the proposed Main Modifications to the East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2 and on proposed changes to the Policies Map from Friday 10th March 2023.
Following the Examination hearing sessions, a number of changes are proposed to the East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2 – Pre-Submission Draft which are necessary to make the Plan sound. These are proposed without prejudice to the Inspector’s final conclusions which will take account of all the representations submitted in response to this consultation.
The changes are available to view in the schedules below:
- Schedule of proposed Main Modifications to the Pre-Submission Plan.
- Schedule of proposed changes to the Policies Map
This consultation is only about the Main Modifications and changes to the Policies Map. It is not an opportunity to make comments on other aspects of the plan or to reiterate previous representations, as these have already been considered as part of the Examination process.
Reviews of the Sustainability Appraisal and Habitat Regulations Assessments have been carried out to assess the proposed modifications to the Plan:
Representations are invited on the proposed Main Modifications, the proposed changes to the Policies Map and on the Sustainability Appraisal Report Addendum and Habitat Regulations Assessment Addendum as accompanying new evidence but not on any other aspect of the plan.
The consultation runs for six weeks from Friday 10th March 2023 to midnight on Friday 21st April 2023.
Representations can be made from Friday 10th March 2023 on the Council’s on-line consultation portal at:
https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/have-your-say/consultations
This is the Council’s preferred method for receiving responses. Alternatively representations can be made in writing and e-mailed to planningpolicy.enc@northnorthants.gov.uk or by post to North Northamptonshire Council, Planning Policy, East Northamptonshire House, Cedar Drive, Thrapston, Kettering NN14 4LZ.
Please make clear from the schedule references which proposed change(s) you are referring to.
All representations must be received by midnight on Friday 21st April 2023.
All representations received will be provided to the planning inspector and will be published on the website. For details of how we treat your data, please see our Privacy Notice: https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/your-council/corporate-privacy-notice
In addition to the schedule of proposed Main Modifications and the schedule of proposed changes to the Policies Map, the Council has also prepared a schedule of Additional Modifications. The Additional Modifications are minor corrections and changes which do not materially affect the soundness of the plan. The Additional Modifications will not be considered by the Inspector and are provided for information purposes only.
The Council has prepared a track-changed version of the Plan, which illustrates how the proposed Main Modifications will be incorporated into the Plan. The track-changed version of the Plan has been published for reference purposes only to support the public consultation on the Main Modifications. Should there be any discrepancy between the tracked-change version of the plan and the MM Schedules, it is the latter which takes precedence.
The track-changed version of the Plan is available through the following link
Background Information
The Regulation 19 consultation version of the Local Plan Part 2 (February 2021) |
The Hearing Sessions concluded on Thursday 5th May 2022. The Programme details the sessions which took place and the participants. The Inspector has now submitted her Post Hearings Letter to the Council. The Council will now consider the content and will work towards completing a schedule of Main Modifications ahead of a consultation.
During the hearings a number of Action Points were discussed, the Council are now tasked with supplying the Inspector with the work requested who will then consider before deciding on the next steps for the Examination process.
The Inspector
The Secretary of State has appointed Planning Inspector Caroline Mulloy BSc (Hons) DipTP MRTPI to undertake an independent Examination into the soundness and legal compliance of the East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2. The Examination commenced upon submission of the Plan and will conclude upon the submission of the Inspector’s Report.
The Inspector’s task is to consider the soundness of the submitted Plan, based on the criteria set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019 (the Framework). The relevant soundness criteria are whether the Plan is:
Positively prepared (providing a strategy which, as a minimum, seeks to meet the area’s objectively assessed needs; and is informed by agreements with other authorities, so that any unmet need from neighbouring areas is accommodated where it is practical to do so and is consistent with achieving sustainable development); –
Justified (an appropriate strategy, taking into account the reasonable alternatives, and based on proportionate evidence);
Effective (deliverable over the plan period and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic matters that have been dealt with rather than deferred, as evidenced by the statement of common ground); and
Consistent with national policy (enabling the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the Framework).
The Inspector will take into account the representations submitted upon the Regulation 19 Plan as far as they relate to soundness and legal compliance considerations. A number of informal debates are likely to 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 Plan, if such a request is made by the Council.
Guidance Notes have been prepared by the Inspector to help people understand the process. Any queries people may have regarding the Examination process should be directed to the Programme Officer who will be happy to assist.
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. All statements will also be submitted through him.
Any matters that anyone wishes to raise with the Inspector should be submitted via the Programme Officer.
Contact details:
Ian Kemp
PO Box 241
Droitwich
WR9 1DW
Mobile: 0772 300 9166
Email: idkemp@icloud.com
Hearing Sessions and Timetable
Hearing Sessions concluded on Thursday 5th May. The Programme details the sessions which took place and the participants.
Agendas for the Hearing Sessions were produced as follows:
- Matter 1 Agenda
- Matter 2 Agenda
- Matter 3 Agenda
- Matter 4 Agenda
- Matter 5 Agenda
- Matter 6 Agenda
- Matter 7 Agenda
- Matter 8 Agenda
- Matter 9 Agenda
- Matter 10 Agenda
- Matter 11 Agenda
- Matter 12 Agenda
- Matter 13 Agenda
- Matter 14 Agenda
Written Statements
The following Written Statements were received in response to the inspector's Matters, Issues and Questions:
Matter 1: Legal and Procedural Requirements
- North Northamptonshire Council
- Barton Willmore for IM Properties
- Emery Planning for Hollins Strategic Land
- Gladman
- Natural England
- Savills for Taylor Wimpey & BDW Trading
Matter 2: Spatial Strategy
- North Northamptonshire Council
- Barton Willmore for IM Properties
- Bidwells for Vistry Homes
- Emery Planning for Hollins Strategic Land
- Marrons for Bellway Homes
- QUOD for The Crown Estate
- Savills for Taylor Wimpey & BDW Trading
Matter 3: Delivering the Housing Requirement
- North Northamptonshire Council
- Bidwells for Vistry Homes
- Brown & Co for Mr Bierton
- Emery Planning for Hollins Strategic Land
- Gladman
- Harris Lamb for Countryside Properties
- Marrons for Bellway Homes
- Marrons for Hallam Land Management & BS Pension Fund Trustees
- Pegasus Group for Lone Star Land
- Savills for Taylor Wimpey & BDW Trading
Matter 4: Housing Allocations in Oundle
- North Northamptonshire Council
- Brown & Co for Mr Bierton
- Glapthorn Parish Council
- Member of Public
- Roebuck Land & Planning for Rose & Sons
Matter 5: Housing Allocations in Rushden and Higham Ferrers
- North Northamptonshire Council
- Bidwells for Vistry Homes
- Marrons for Bellway Homes
- Savills for Taylor Wimpey & BDW Trading
- Troy Planning & Design for Rushden Town Council
Matter 6: Delivering the Sustainable Urban Extension at Rushden East
- North Northamptonshire Council
- Aitchison Rafferty for Higham Ferrers Town Council
- Gladman
- Savills for Taylor Wimpey & BDW Trading
- Troy Planning & Design for Rushden Town Council
Matter 7: Meeting Housing Needs
- North Northamptonshire Council
- Emery Planning for Hollins Strategic Land
- Home Builders Federation
- Marrons for Bellway Homes
- Savills for Taylor Wimpey & BDW Trading
Matter 8: Employment
- North Northamptonshire Council
- Barton Willmore for IM Properties
- QUOD for The Crown Estate
- Savills for Taylor Wimpey & BDW Trading
Matter 9: Town Centres
- North Northamptonshire Council
- QUOD for The Crown Estate
- Troy Planning & Design for Rushden Town Council
Matter 10: Town Strategies
Matter 11: Social Capital
Matter 12: Natural Capital
- North Northamptonshire Council
- Barton Willmore for IM Properties
- Savills for Taylor Wimpey & BDW Trading
Matter 13: Infrastructure & Viability
Matter 14: Monitoring & Implementation
- North Northamptonshire Council
- Emery Planning for Hollins Strategic Land
- Savills for Taylor Wimpey & BDW Trading
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.
The Local Plan Part 2 and accompanying statutory submission documents may be downloaded through the following documents:
Regulation 19 Consultation Representations
At the close of the Regulation 19 consultation the Council received responses from 61 organisations and individuals, raising approximately 350 representations, which were recorded as duly made.
Spreadsheets containing summaries and the Council’s responses to each of the representations received, are available through the following links:
Redacted copies of original representations received, in full, are available to download through the following table.
Consultee | Reference Number | Representation |
Individual 1 | R19/001 | Link |
Individual 2 | R19/003 | Link |
Individual 3 | R19/004 | Link |
Individual 4 | R19/005 | Link |
Individual 5 | R19/006 | Link |
Individual 6 | R19/007 | Link |
Individual 7 | R19/008 | Link |
Individual 8 | R19/010 | Link |
Individual 9 | R19/012 | Link |
Individual 10 | R19/018 | Link |
Individual 11 | R19/032 | Link |
Individual 12 | R19/038 | Link |
Anglian Water Services | R19/022 | Link |
Ashfield Land Development | R19/019 | Link |
Bellway Homes Ltd | R19/026 | Link |
British Horse Society | R19/034 | Link |
Brown & Co | R19/059 | Link |
CC Town Planning | R19/046 | Link |
Chelveston-cum-Caldecott Parish Council | R19/002 | Link |
CLH Pipeline Systems Ltd | R19/035 | Link |
Corporation of Oundle School, The | R19/033 | Link |
Cotterstock Parish Meeting | R19/011 | Link |
Countryside Properties | R19/036 | Link |
CPRE | R19/037 | Link |
Crown Estate, The | R19/044 | Link |
David Wilson Homes | R19/052 | Link |
Francis Jackson Homes Ltd | R19/021 | Link |
Gladman | R19/056 | Link |
Glapthorn Parish Council | R19/024 | Link |
Hallam Land Management Limited | R19/016 | Link |
Higham Ferrers Town Council | R19/014 | Link |
Highways England | R19/060 | Link |
Historic England | R19/0396 | Link |
Hollins Strategic Land | R19/061 | Link |
Home Builders Federation | R19/023 | Link |
Huntingdonshire District Council | R19/009 | Link |
IM Properties | R19/040 | Link |
Lagan Homes | R19/042 | Link |
Landowners of Millers Field | R19/041 | Link |
Lone Star Land Limited | R19/043 | Link |
Ministry of Defence | R19/045 | Link |
National Grid | R19/047 | Link |
National Trust | R19/027 | Link |
Natural England | R19/048 | Link |
Northamptonshire County Council | R19/049 | Link |
Northamptonshire Gardens Trust, The | R19/030 | Link |
Oundle School | R19/028 | Link |
Oundle Town Council | R19/025 | Link |
Persimmon Homes | R19/050 | Link |
Pilton, Stoke Doyle, and Wadenhoe Parish Council | R19/051 | Link |
Retirement Housing Consortium, The | R19/029 | Link |
Rose and Sons Ltd | R19/031 | Link |
Rula Homes | R19/053 | Link |
Rushden Town Council | R19/054 | Link |
Rutland County Council | R19/013 | Link |
Sport England | R19/020 | Link |
South Kesteven District Council | R19/055 | Link |
Taylor Wimpey UK Limited/ BDW Trading Limited | R19/057 | Link |
Vistry Homes | R19/058 | Link |
Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire & Northamptonshire, The | R19/017 | Link |
William Davis Ltd | R19/015 | Link |
Please note that this page is evolving. Further documents will be added to this over the coming weeks and months, as the examination in public (which started upon submission of the Plan) progresses.
More information
- Local Plan - The Policies
- North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit
- Core Spatial Strategy
- National Policies, Communities and Local Government Information
- North Northamptonshire Statement of Community Involvement
- East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2
- The Adopted Development Plan - Index of Policies
- Self and Custom Build
- Open Space and Playing Pitch Strategy
- Local Development Scheme
- Local Plan Part 2 Additional Site Allocation
- Local Plan Part 2 Additional Sites Consultation (Rushden), October 2020
- Planning Policy Committee - 27th January 2021 Document Links
- Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan Part 2 Consultation - Regulation 19
- East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2 - Examination (you are here)