A report seeking approval to conduct a public consultation on the Local Plan Partial Update (LPPU) Main Modifications and Proposals Map Modifications.

The Committee considered a report seeking approval to undertake public consultation on the Main Modifications and Proposals Map Modifications to the Local Plan Partial Update (LPPU). The report set out the background to the Partial Update, the examination process, and the Main Modifications that had been identified by the Planning Inspector as being necessary to ensure that the LPPU was sound and legally compliant. The following documents were appended to the report:

• Appendix 1 – Schedule of Main Modifications
• Appendix 2 – Proposals Map Modifications

The report stated that the Reading Borough Local Plan had been adopted in 2019 and that there was a statutory requirement to review the Plan within five years of its adoption. A review had identified the need for a Partial Update of the Local Plan, which the Committee had agreed to proceed with on 23 March 2023 (Minute 36 refers). Consultation on the scope and content of the Partial Update had been undertaken between November 2023 and January 2024, followed by consultation on the Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan Partial Update (LPPU) in November and December 2024. The resulting LPPU was submitted to the Secretary of State on 9 May 2025 and subsequently underwent a public examination led by an independent Planning Inspector, including hearings held in November 2025 (Stage 1) and February 2026 (Stage 2).

The Planning Inspector had identified several Main Modifications that were required to ensure the Local Plan Partial Update was sound and legally compliant. Given their significance, the proposed modifications would be subject to public consultation and sustainability appraisal. The Inspector had worked with the Council and, where appropriate, other examination participants to develop the proposed wording of the changes which were set out in Appendix 1. The Main Modifications set out in Appendix 1 ranged from minor drafting amendments to more substantial changes to the LPPU. The most significant modifications were summarised in the report. It also noted that the Main Modifications would result in consequential amendments to the Proposals Map, which were detailed separately in Appendix 2.

The report further explained that, although the formal letter confirming the Main Modifications had not yet been received from the Planning Inspectorate, the Inspector had communicated the required modifications to the Council as part of the examination process. Officers did not anticipate that the formal letter would result in any changes to the modifications set out in Appendices 1 and 2 but delegated authority was being sought to enable any minor amendments arising from the final letter to be made before the consultation commenced.

The report explained that the Main Modifications would need to be subject to public consultation before they could be incorporated into the LPPU. It was therefore proposed that consultation be undertaken on the Main Modifications set out in Appendix 1 and the associated Proposals Map amendments set out in Appendix 2. The consultation was expected to take place between 26 June and 7 August 2026. Any representations received during the consultation period would be submitted directly to the Planning Inspector for consideration in preparing their final report. The Council would only be able to adopt the LPPU once it had received the Inspector's final report confirming that the Plan was sound, legally compliant and satisfied the duty to co-operate.

Resolved –

(1)           That the Local Plan Partial Update Main Modifications (Appendix 1) and Proposals Map Modifications (Appendix 2) be approved for consultation;

(2)           That the Director for Planning, Transport and Public Protection Services, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Planning and Assets, be authorised to make any minor amendments necessary to the Main Modifications and Proposals Map Modifications that did not alter the policy direction as identified in any letter from the Planning Inspector, prior to consultation.