A report updating the Committee on the progress of the Local Plan examination, including public hearings that closed on 5 October 2018.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report that updated the Committee on the progress with the Local Plan examination, which had included public hearings that had closed on 5 October 2018. 

The report explained that the Council was replacing its existing development plans (the Core Strategy, Reading Central Area Action Plan and Sites and Detailed Policies Document) with a new single Local Plan to set out how Reading would develop up to 2036.  Three consultations had been undertaken on the Local Plan between 2016 and 2018.  The Local Plan had been submitted to the Secretary of State on 29 March 2018, which marked the beginning of a public examination held by an independent Planning Inspector.

The report explained that the Inspector had requested, and received, additional information from the Council and other participants, and was in the process of considering if modifications would be needed to make sure that the plan was ‘sound’ and legally compliant.  Once this was known, consultation on these modifications would be required before a final inspector’s report could be issued.

Resolved -      That the progress on the public examination into the Reading Borough Local Plan be noted.