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

Additional information - May-June 2019

Additional information - April 2019

Information received from Lakenheath Parish Council Council's response
SIR response to Inspectors in reply to letter dated 12 December 2018 22 March 2019 - Council's response to submission by Lakenheath Parish Council
1 - Lakenheath PC v SCC - summary of grounds of resistance 7 January 2019  

2 - Lakenheath decision v SCC 28 January 2019

 
3 - Clarke Saunders report of 30 August 2018 with data  
3(a) - Clarke Saunders RAF Lakenheath survey time history 30 August 2018  
4 - RAF letter of 4 September 2018  
5 - LPC to FHDC 27 July 2016  
6 - High Court Order re rolled up hearing dated 11 February 2019  

Additional information - December 2018

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

Inspectors' information Council's information
  Horse Crossing Assessment - Rayes Lane, Newmarket
  Hatchfield Farm - re-opening inquiry letter
  Natural England response to HRA addendum
Addendum to the HRA's of the Forest Heath SIR and SALP (Modification stage)
4 June 2018 - Letter from Inspectors re HRA 4 June 2018 - Council's response re HRA
26 April 2018 Please Note: The inclusion of Main Modification MM16 in the SALP main modification table is an error as it is NOT a change from the Submission SALP text (the process is to comment on changes). However if any comments regarding paragraph 5.6.19 are submitted they will be passed on to the Inspector
 
13 March 2018 - letter from Inspectors re SIR 28 March 2018 - Council's letter to Inspectors re consultation and hearings timetable
13 March 2018 - letter from Inspectors re SALP
  22 February 2018 - Council's letter to Inspectors following the Forest Heath District Council full Council meeting held on 21 February 2018
10 January 2018 - Letter from Inspectors 19 January 2018 - Council's response to Inspectors
28 November 2017 - Letter from Inspectors 05 December 2017 - FHDC response to Inspectors letter dated 28 November 2017

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.

Single Issue Review of CS7 (SIR) Site Allocations Local Plan (SALP)
FHDC response to the Inspectors’ letter of 4 October 2017

SALP main modifications schedule V2

Note 1 - Consistency of SIR to CS1 (including Appendix A and B) SALP additional modification schedule V2 and modifications to Policies Map V2
Note 1 - Appendix C AM5 SALP RAF noise contours map
Note 1 - Appendix D AM24 and AM34 SALP November 2017 trajectory
Note 2 - Traffic and Horse Movements  
Note 2 - Appendix A 1 and 15. Note on Lakenheath
  2. Issue of pooling in relation to delivery regarding traffic and horse walks
SIR main modifications schedule V2 3. Review of noise contours in Sustainability Appraisal
SIR additional modification schedule V2 4. Inconsistency in B use class specifications SA4a and SA10a
SIR Appendix B – November 2017 Housing Trajectory 5. Sufficient flexibility in B use class allocations
SIR text for adoption (updated) 6. St Leger site and DC committee report
  7. Main Modification wording to SA6 sites
1. Paper on jobs growth numbers 8. Site SA6(b) Land at Black Bear Lane and Rowley Drive Junction
2. Delivery of affordable housing 9. Definition of affordable housing in relation to HRI
3. Red Lodge SA10a and National Grid and Acorn Way illustrative plan 10. Use of term Settlement Hierarchy in FHLP documents
4. Historical lapse rates (since 2013)

 

Historical lapse rates (since 2013) small sites and large sites
11. SA7(b) flood zone query
5. Historical information on unplanned delivery 12. Start date within SIR trajectory
6. Windfall delivery by location 13. Development briefs
7. Housing trajectory – explanation of tables:

 

14. RAF noise contours map
8. Overview of representations received from letters sent to developers 15. (see 1 and 15 above)
9. Note on Academy providers 16. References to settlements
10. Details of measures to combat air quality in Newmarket 17. SA9(c) capacity query
11. List of Newmarket horse crossings and planned Suffolk County Council upgrades  

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
10.10.2017 Councils response to Inspectors letter dated 3 October 2017 12.10.2017 Notice of clarification regarding Site Allocation Local Plan (SALP) Hearing Sessions
05.10.2017 Inspector letter post SIR hearings 12.10.2017 SALP Hearing Agenda (v2 updated attendees)
22.09.2017 SIR Hearing Agenda (updated 22.09.2017) 10.10.2017 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
22.09.2017 Statements of Common Ground 22.09.2017 Statements of Common Ground
11.09.2017 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 15.08.2017 Notice of Independent Examination under Regulation 24 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (15 Aug 2012)
03.08.2017 Notice of Independent Examination under Regulation 24 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (3 Aug 2012) 14.08.2017 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
24.07.2017 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 14.08.2017 Site Allocations Local Plan Hearings Programme (revised - 3 October 2017)
24.07.2017 Single Issue Review Hearings programme (Version 1 - 21 July 2017) 14.08.2017 Site Allocations Local Plan examination guidance from the Inspector
24.07.2017 Single Issue Review examination guidance from the Inspectors    

Correspondence prior to commencement of hearings

Date Correspondence Response Date
27.06.2017    
02.06.2017 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

 

06.06.2017

Core document library

Section A - Background documents
Section B - Direct documents
Section C - Submission documents
Section D - post-submission documents