Forest Heath Local Plan Examination 2017
The Forest Heath Local Plan documents were submitted to the Secretary of State for examination on 24 March 2017.
The Planning Inspectorate has appointed two Planning Inspectors to examine the submitted plans. They are Inspector Simon Berkeley BA MA MRTPI and Inspector Christa Masters MA(HONS) MRTPI.
The Local Plan comprises the Single Issue Review (SIR) of Core Strategy Policy CS7 Overall Housing Provision and Distribution and the Site Allocations Document.
Annette Feeney is the Programme Officer who is assisting the Inspectors.
All correspondence relating to the examination should be sent to the Programme Officer at:
- email: annette.feeney@westsuffolk.gov.uk
- phone: 07775 771026
- post: c/o Strategic Planning, Forest Heath District Council, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3YU
Correspondence and updates relating to the examination can be viewed below, together with examination information and timetable.
If you wish to find out in more detail how the examination of the Local Plan will be carried out the Planning Inspectorate has published a useful guide: Examining Local Plans Procedural Practice. (link removed as no longer works)
Forest Heath Local Plan inspectors' reports
On 13 August 2019, the council received the inspectors' reports on the examination of the Single Issue Review of Core Strategy Policy CS9 Overall Housing Provision and Distribution (SIR) and the Site Allocations Local Plan (SALP), in which the inspectors set out and justify their recommendations. The inspectors' reports conclude that the SIR and SALP are 'sound' and that they provide an appropriate basis for the planning of the former Forest Heath area, provided that a number of main modification are made.
Single Issue Review of Core Strategy Policy CS9 Overall Housing Provision and Distribution (SIR)
Site Allocations Local Plan (SALP):
Public notice
The inspectors' reports and the local plan documents, incorporating the inspectors' main modifications, are due to be considered by full Council meeting on 19 September. The modified SIR and SALP will be recommended for the council for adoption. Upon adoption they will form the Forest Heath area of West Suffolk Council Local Plan and the development plan for development management purposes (under section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act as amended).
For further information relating to the inspectors' reports of the adoption process and estimated timescales, please contact the planning policy team on planning.policy@westsuffolk.gov.uk or 01284 757368
Further consultation - now closed - Thursday 9 May (9am) to Friday 21 June (5pm)
Additional information - May-June 2019
- May 2019 - Summary of Newmarket Horseman's Group highways evidence
- West Suffolk Council response to NHG additional evidence - 21 June 2019
- Sellwood Planning (obo owner of Hatchfield Farm, Newmarket) - response to NHG additional evidence - 20 June 2019
Additional information - April 2019
Additional information - December 2018
- 26 November 2018 - comments from Newmarket Horseman's Group (NHG) regarding the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)
- 12 December 2018 - Inspectors questions to the Local Authority re matters raised by NHG on the HRA
- 19 December 2018 - FHDC response to the matters raised by the NHG to the HRA
- SIR and SALP Post-Submission Main Modifications - consultation now closed
Post hearing additional notes
| Submitted by | documents submitted after examination hearings as requested by Inspector |
|---|---|
| Forest Heath District Council | Newmarket Horse Crossing Survey Review - in response to data provided by Horse Racing Industry |
| Habitats Regulations Assessment Clarification | |
| Newmarket Horsemans Group | Note re Habitats Regulations Assessment |
Modifications examination hearings (25-27 June 2018)
Documents submitted during examination hearings
- NHG traffic and horse queue length surveys - May 2018
- NHG response to Suffolk County Council’s representations dated 8 and 20 June 2018
- NHG response to Lord Derby’s representations on MM18 / RPS Technical Note dated 7 June 2018
Examination information
Post-hearing issues for clarification
The tables below contain the council’s responses to issues raised at the SIR and SALP hearing sessions and the proposed modifications.
Also below (in the SIR column) is the council’s response to the Inspectors’ letter of 4 October 2017 and accompanying notes 1 and 2 and appendices.
Hearing sessions information - (hearing sessions have now concluded)
| Date | Single Issue Review - Monday 25 September to Friday 29 September 2017 | Date | Site Allocations Local Plan - Tuesday 17 October to Thursday 19 October 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 October 2017 | Councils response to Inspectors letter dated 3 October 2017 | 12 October 2017 | Notice of clarification regarding Site Allocation Local Plan (SALP) Hearing Sessions |
| 5 October 2017 | Inspector letter post SIR hearings | 12 October 2017 | SALP Hearing Agenda (v2 updated attendees) |
| 22 September 2017 | SIR Hearing Agenda (updated 22.09.2017) | 10 October 2017 | SALP Hearing Statements - these statements are written by the Council and objectors in response to the Inspector’s Matters and Issues and may include Statements of Common Ground |
| 22 September 2017 | Statements of Common Ground | 22 September 2017 | Statements of Common Ground |
| 11 September 2017 | Single Issue Review Hearing Statements - these statements are written by the Council and objectors in response to the Inspector’s Matters and Issues and may include Statements of Common Ground | 15 August 2017 | Notice of Independent Examination under Regulation 24 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (15 Aug 2012) |
| 3 August 2017 | Notice of Independent Examination under Regulation 24 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (3 Aug 2012) | 14 August 2017 | Site Allocations Local Plan Matters and Issues - these are the matters and issues that the Inspector has identified to date for consideration at the hearings. The list of matters and issues will be updated during the examination process |
| 24 July 2017 | Single Issue Review Matters and Issues - these are the matters and issues that the Inspector has identified to date for consideration at the hearings. The list of matters and issues will be updated during the examination process | 14 August 2017 | Site Allocations Local Plan Hearings Programme (revised - 3 October 2017) |
| 24 July 2017 | Single Issue Review Hearings programme (Version 1 - 21 July 2017) | 14 August 2017 | Site Allocations Local Plan examination guidance from the Inspector |
| 24 July 2017 | Single Issue Review examination guidance from the Inspectors |
Correspondence prior to commencement of hearings
| Date | Correspondence | Response | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 June 2017 | |||
| 2 June 2017 | Letter from Inspector - Single Issue Review of Core Strategy Policy CS7 | First response to PINs from Council - Timescale for responding to Inspectors' letter of 2 June 2017
| 6 June 2017 |
Core document library
- Section A - Background documents
- Section B - Direct documents
- Section C - Submission documents
- Section D - post-submission documents
- View representations made to the proposed submission documents (link removed as no longer works)
- Single Issue Review home page
- Site Allocations Local Plan home page