Government examines vital planning document for Tewkesbury Borough
The Tewkesbury Borough Plan has been submitted to the government’s planning inspectorate for examination.
The plan, which feeds directly into the Joint Core Strategy, provides detailed and locally-specific planning policies on issues across Tewkesbury Borough such as housing, employment, retail, the urban and natural environment and transport. It also includes proposed sites for housing and employment development.
The independent examination will be conducted by the government’s planning inspectorate who will appoint an independent inspector in due course. The inspector will assess whether the plan has been prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements and if it meets the tests of soundness set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. The inspector will also consider the responses to the ‘pre-submission’ consultation which took place October and November 2019.
The examination process will also involve public hearing sessions to discuss any matters the inspector considers necessary. The inspector will also determine whether anyone who responded to last year’s consultation is required to submit further information, or take part in the hearing sessions themselves.
Councillor Rob Bird, leader of the council, said: “Submitting our development plan to the inspectorate is such a significant and positive step for Tewkesbury Borough. After much consultation, the future development needs of our community have been clarified, and our plan creates the certainty required to facilitate a thriving and prosperous borough. We will now work with the government inspector to ensure that the plan is fully compliant and can be adopted as quickly as possible.”
The submitted plan, and all supporting documents, can be viewed on the council’s website: https://www.tewkesbury.gov.uk/tewkesbury-borough-plan-examination-library