The Local Plan examination - overview & timeline

Examination timeline

For latest updates please visit The Local Plan examination - latest news.

The Role of the Inspector

Inspectors P Lewis BA (Hons) MA MRTPI and J Ayres BA Hons, Solicitor have been appointed to hold an independent examination of the Chichester Local Plan 2021-2039.

The role of the appointed Inspector is to carry out an independent assessment of the overall soundness of the Local Plan and ensure that it satisfies the statutory requirements for its preparation.  In order to do so, the Inspector will assess the Local Plan, the evidence on which it was created, and all of the representations submitted during the Regulation 19 public consultation.

Programme Officer

Kerry Trueman of Programme Officer Solutions Ltd has been appointed as Programme Officer. The role of the Programme Officer is to independently coordinate the administration of the examination and to liaise between the Planning Inspector, the Local Authority and the interested parties for the duration of the examination.

Kerry is contracted by Chichester District Council for the purposes of this examination only. She is impartial and works under the Inspector's direction but uses a Council email address to securely exchange information.

The Programme Officer can be contacted as follows:

Kerry Trueman

Programme Officer Solutions Ltd
Email: programmeofficer@chichester.gov.uk
Phone: 07582 310364
Post: Pendragon House, 1 Bertram Drive, Meols, Wirral, CH47 0LG

Examination Process Overview

After the Council submits the plan to the Planning Inspectorate together with the documents required by legislation and relevant evidence base, the Planning Inspectorate aims to appoint an Inspector within 3 weeks for plans containing strategic policies.

In the initial weeks after the Inspector's appointment:

• The Inspector makes an initial assessment of the plan and makes contact with the Programme Officer
• The Inspector looks for any fundamental flaws in respect of soundness or legal compliance and may write to the Council in the first instance if there are major concerns.
• The Inspector may write to the Council with questions on other matters.
• The Inspector determines the matters and issues for discussion at the hearings, and prepares the initial hearings timetable and a guidance note for participants.
• If the Inspector considers it necessary, the Council (and other participants) are asked to submit information or statements on specific issues. These should not be submitted unless requested by the Inspector.
• The Inspector confirms the start date for the hearing sessions. The Council must advertise the opening of a hearing at least 6 weeks in advance.
• The Programme Officer publishes the initial timetable for the hearing sessions, the matters and issues for discussion and the Inspector's Guidance Note.
• The Council and other participants are allowed 2-3 weeks to prepare any statements or other information requested by the Inspector, and submit them to the Programme Officer.
• The Programme Officer checks that they have been received and placed on the examination website, so that all participants have access to them.
• The Programme Officer clarifies and confirms participants' attendance at the hearings.

For information on the examination process and how to take part in examinations, please see the Planning Inspectorate's procedure guide for Local Plan Examinations (opens new window) and Local plans guide to taking part in examinations (opens new window). 

You can also view the council's planning policy privacy notice.