Core Strategy Examination

Inspector's report

On 24 August 2010 the council received the Inspector's Report (PDF 3Mb) of the examination of the Core Strategy from the Planning Inspectorate. The Planning Inspector has concluded that it complies legally with national regulations governing the preparation of Local Development Framework documents and that, subject to the incorporation of changes set out in the report, the Core Strategy is sound.  

The changes required by the Inspector are binding upon the council, who will now be considering whether to formally adopt the Core Strategy. It is unlikely that a final decision will be made until December.  

The council has prepared an information note (PDF 40Kb) to assist in understanding the main points of the report and what happens next.  
 

Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) Housing: Consultation on implications for the Core Strategy (Closed 8 July 2010)

Following the Core Strategy public hearing the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has published an amended Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) Housing. The Inspector examining the Core Strategy sought views in respect of the implications of the amendments to PPS3 from those consultees who had previously commented on the Core Strategy at Submission Stage, so that he could take them into account in his report. The Inspector asked the council to consult for a period of four weeks on these changes to National Planning Guidance. The changes to PPS3 are outlined in the letter from the Core Strategy Examination Programme Officer dated 10 June 2010 (PDF26Kb)

22 comments were made in relation to the consultation, all of which were forwarded in their original form to the Planning Inspector. View all of the responses: Responses to the PPS3 consultation (PDF 76Kb)

Regional Spatial Strategy: Consultation on implications for the Core Strategy (closed 1 July 2010)

Following the recent Core Strategy public hearing the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government advised by letter of the coalition government's intention to abolish Regional Spatial Strategies. The Inspector examining the Core Strategy sought views in respect of the implications of the letter from those consultees who had previously commented on the Core Strategy at Submission Stage, so that he may take them into account in his report. The Inspector asked the council to consult for a period of four weeks, until 1 July 2010, on his proposed changes. The changes to the Regional Spatial Strategy are outlined in the letter from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government dated 27 May 2010 (PDF 171Kb) and the implications for the consideration of the Core Strategy are detailed in the letter from the Core Strategy Examination Programme Officer dated 2 June 2010 (PDF 27Kb). 

49 comments were received in relation to the consultation all of which were forwarded in their original form to the Planning Inspector. All of the responses can be viewed at: Responses to the RSS Consultation (PDF 830Kb)  

On the 8 July 2010 the council submitted the following response to the Planning Inspector regarding the Core Strategy RSS consultation: Council's response to the RSS consultation (PDF 432Kb)

Wickhambrook Consultation (closed 28 June 2010)

Following the Core Strategy public hearing the council was informed by the Planning Inspector, who is currently examining the document, that in relation to the settlement hierarchy he was 'minded to revise the position of Wickhambrook from a Key Service Centre to a Local Service Centre'. As this was regarded as a significant change to the Core Strategy, the Inspector asked the council to consult for a period of four weeks on his proposed changes until 28 June 2010. The schedule of changes which would be required in the Core Strategy is outlined in the letter from the Core Strategy Examination Programme Officer dated 19 May 2010 (PDF 38Kb).

41 comments were made in relation to the consultation, all of which were forwarded in their original form to the Planning Inspector. All of the responses can be viewed at: Responses to Wickhambrook Consultation (PDF 268Kb)

Hearing sessions into the Core Strategy Development Plan document

The hearing sessions into the Core Strategy Development Plan Document (DPD) closed on Thursday 13 May 2010.

The Core Strategy is the first development plan document in the Council's Local Development Framework to be submitted (on 8 January 2010) to the Secretary of State.

In submitting the document the council has to make available certain documents that were submitted alongside the Core Strategy itself. These documents make up the Core Document Library which can be viewed here and at:

St Edmundsbury Borough Council
West Suffolk House
Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 3YU

This webpage will be regularly updated and all changes will be shown on the Examination in Public update page in date order so it is clear what additional material has been added and when.

The planning inspector appointed for the Core Strategy Hearing was Michael Moore BA(Hons) MRTPI MCIT MIHT.

The Pre-hearing meeting took place on Wednesday 3 March 10am at the Council Chamber, Western Way. The PHM notes are attached to the main page and available to view. Hearing session will commence on 27 April and end on Thursday 13 May. The Current Draft Programme (PDF 33Kb) can be viewed here and may be subject to changes, so please ensure that you check the latest edition.

Paper copies of all of the above documents can be viewed at St Edmundsbury Borough Council Offices:

• West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3YU (Monday to Friday 8.45am-5pm)
• Haverhill Council Offices, Lower Down Slade, Haverhill, CB9 9EE (Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am-4pm)

Copies of all the above documents can be viewed online in any of the following public libraries:

• Bury St Edmunds Library, Sergeants Walk, St Andrews Street NorthBury St Edmunds IP33 1TZ
  Phone: 01284 732255
• Clare Library, The Guild Hall, High Street, Clare, CO10 8NY. Phone: 01787 277702
• Haverhill Library, Camps Road, Haverhill, CB9 8HB. Phone: 01440 702638
• Ixworth Library, Village Hall, High Street, Ixworth, IP31 2HH. Phone: 01359 231493
• Kedington Library, Community Centre, Arms Lane, Kedington, CB9 7QQ. Phone: 01440 703449