Core Strategy - Examination

Following consultation on the Elmbridge |Core Strategy Proposed Submission, it was submitted to the Secretary of State on 31 March 2010 for examination by an independent Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State to determine whether the document is legally compliant, sound and fit for purpose. A copy of the initial Programme Officer's letter and Planning Inspectorate guidance on examining Development Plan Documents (DPD) can be downloaded below:

• |Programme Officer - Introductory Letter (250610)
• |Planning Inspectorate - A brief guide to examining DPD's (April 2009)

Since their election in May 2010, the Coalition Government made a number of changes to the planning system, including to National Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing and the revocation of Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS). It was considered that these changes would have implications for the content of the submitted Elmbridge Core Strategy and that people should be given the opportunity to comment on the plan in light of the above changes. As these changes were made subsequent to the publication of the proposed submission Core Strategy in January 2010, the examination has been held in abeyance for six months to allow for the consultation, any changes to the plan and the examination process to resume. A copy of the abeyance letter can be downloaded below:

• |Programme Officer- Abeyance Letter (220710)

The |Elmbridge Core Strategy Post Submission Consultation: Setting a local housing target took place between Monday 6 September and Monday 11 October 2010. Following consideration of the responses made to the consultation, and following the reinstatement of Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS), the Council submitted a number of additional documents to the Inspector on 16 December 2010.

Following these submissions the Public Examination was no longer in abeyance and the Inspector agreed to restart the Public Examination

The Inspector and Programme Officer

The Inspector for the Elmbridge Core Strategy DPD Examination is Ms Mary Travers BA (Hons) Dip TP MRTPI. The Programme Officer works directly for the Planning Inspector and is responsible for the administration of the Examination and hearings. For information and correspondence about the Examination please contact:

Geoff Benge
Programme Officer
Planning Services
Elmbridge Borough Council
Civic Offices
High Street
Esher, Surrey
KT10 9SD

Tel: 01372 474793

Pre-hearing meeting

The Inspector held a Pre-Hearing Meeting on Thursday 3 February 2011, in the Council Chamber of the Civic Centre. This meeting was to help the Inspector and all interested parties to prepare for the Examination hearings and the Inspector outlined how the hearings will be conducted and the procedures to be followed. The agenda and minutes of the meeting can be downloaded below:

• |Programme Officer - Core Strategy Examination dates letter (070111)
• |Programme Officer - Pre-Hearing meeting minutes and Hearing programme letter (080211)
• |Pre-Hearing meeting - Note
• |Pre-Hearing meeting - Agenda
• |Pre-Hearing meeting - Minutes

Examination

The Hearings part of the Examination was held on 29 / 30 March 2011 in Committee Rooms 4 & 5 at the Civic Centre. The programme for the hearings can be downloaded below:

• |Hearings Programme, Participants, Matters and Issues (New version 030311)
• |Programme Officer - Closing date for further submissions letter (100211)

Detailed agendas for Hearing sessions are available below:

• |Hearing agenda - Matter 1
• |Hearing agenda - Matter 2
• |Hearing agenda - Matter 3

Examination documents

• |Core Strategy Submission Documents - March and December 2010
• |Previous stages of the Core Strategy
• |Examination Hearings, Statements and additional documents
• |Evidence base produced specifically to support the Core Strategy

A |core document list has been produced and this includes links to all the submission documents as well as all other documents relevant to the production of the Core Strategy including national and regional planning policy and guidance, evidence base documents, previous stages of consultation etc. It is updated frequently as new documents are submitted/produced

Post hearing consultation - 'Planning for Growth'

Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's 2011 budget, the Minister of State for Decentralisation made a statement "Planning for Growth" which sets out the Government's commitment to reforming the planning system so that it promotes sustainable growth and jobs. The statement took account with immediate effect and, as such, the Inspector invited representations with regard to its potential impact on the soundness of the Core Strategy.

The consultation closed on Friday 15 April 2011. The representations received can be viewed on the |Examination Hearings, Statements and additional documents web page.

Consultation on Proposed Post Hearing Amendments

Representations were invited on a number of amendments to the Core Strategy that were discussed during the hearing sessions on the 29 and 30 of March 2011. These are set out in the schedule below. The consultation closed on Monday 9 May 2011.

|Schedule of Post Hearing Amendments

The representations received can be viewed on the |Examination Hearings, Statements and additional documents web page.

Post Hearing Amendments - Addendum

The Council has proposed some minor additional changes to the Core Strategy in order to ensure that the document is factually correct, internally consistent and addresses concerns raised by the Inspector at the hearing.

|Schedule of Post Hearing Amendments - Addendum