​​Local Plan Examination

Adoption of the plan

The Local Plan was adopted at the Council’s Full Council meeting on 2^nd March 2022.

In accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, the council has now made available the following documents:

• Delivery and Allocations Local Plan (2022)
• Policies Map (2022)
• Policies Map (2022) (Low Resolution)
• Adoption Statement
• Inspectors Report
• Schedule of Modifications
• Sustainability Appraisal Report
• Habitats Regulations Assessment

Local Plan Examination

In accordance with Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (As Amended) Halton Borough Council submitted the Delivery and Allocations Local Plan for Halton to the Secretary of State on 5^th March 2020 for examination by the Planning Inspectorate.

The Inspector's task is to consider the soundness of the submitted Plan. The Inspector will also consider whether the Delivery and Allocations Local Plan meets the requisite legal and procedural requirements. In order to do so, the Inspector will assess the DALP, the evidence base on which it was created, as well as all of the representations submitted during the public consultations

The Inspector

Planning Inspector Caroline Mulloy BSc (Hons) DipTP MRTP and David Troy BSc (Hons) MA MRTPI have been appointed to undertake an independent examination into the soundness and legal compliance of the Halton Delivery and Allocations Local Plan.

The Inspector’s task is to consider the soundness of the submitted Plan, based on the criteria set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019 (the Framework).  The relevant soundness criteria are whether the Plan is:

1. positively prepared (providing a strategy which, as a minimum, seeks to meet the area’s objectively assessed needs; and is informed by agreements with other authorities, so that unmet need from neighbouring areas is accommodated where it is practical to do so and is consistent with achieving sustainable development);
2. justified (an appropriate strategy, taking into account the reasonable alternatives, and based on proportionate evidence);
3. effective (deliverable over the plan period and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic matters that have been dealt with rather than deferred, as evidenced by the statement of common ground); and
4. consistent with national policy (enabling the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the Framework). 

​At the end of the Examination, the Inspector will prepare a report to the Council with precise recommendations, these recommendations may include modifications to the Plan, if such a request is made by the Council.

Guidance Notes will be prepared by the Inspector to help people understand the process and will be available here in due course. Any queries people may have regarding the Examination process should be directed to the Programme Officer who will be happy to assist.

The Programme Officer

The Programme Officer, Lynn Donnelly, will act as the contact for any person who has an interest in the Examination and as a liaison between the Inspector, Council and Representors.

She is an independent Officer of the Examination and works on behalf of the Inspectors to organise and manage the administrative and procedural elements of the Examination process. All statements will also be submitted through her.

Any matters that anyone wishes to raise with the Inspector should be submitted via the Programme Officer.

Contact details:

Lynn Donnelly

Email: ProgrammeOfficer@halto​n.gov.uk

Phone: 0151-511 7035

The Programme Officer will be contacting all Representors with details of the Examination process in due course.

Hearing Sessions Venue and Timetable

A Programme for the Hearing Sessions together with Venue details and matters to be discussed can be found under “Key Dates” or by clicking on the link below once finalised.

Submission and Evidence Base Documents

In preparing the Plan the Council both refer to and were informed by a number of documents that together form the 'Evidence Base' for the Examination. These include the Submission Documents submitted to the Secretary of State on 5^th March 2020.

Consultation responses to the Publication Draft Plan can be viewed here:

https://www3.halton.gov.uk/Pages/planning/policyguidance/pdf/eip/SD20.pdf

Additional documents, such as Inspector’s questions, which are published during the examination, will be made available on the Post submission examination documents page.