Latest updates

Through the Examination and Hearings undertaken in October and November 2019, the Inspectors have identified a number of modifications required to the plan in order to make it ‘Sound’ (as set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework). 

These Main Modifications have been published for consultation, together with the Sustainability Appraisal, Habitat Regulations Assessment, and Equalities Assessment of the Main Modifications. 

In addition to the proposed Main Modifications, the Council has also published a schedule of proposed changes to the Local Plan Policies Map.  Some of these modifications are a result of the Main Modifications (specifically MM17, MM18 and MM28).  Others are necessary to reflect latest circumstances or to ensure consistency and accuracy.

The consultation will run between Friday 6th March 2020 until 5pm Friday 17th April 2020. 

Details of the proposed modifications and consultation arrangements can be found in the ‘Main Modifications Consultation’ section in the examination library.

Following the hearings, the Inspectors published EX.INS.019 Inspectors’ Post Hearings Advice Note November 2019, which can be found in the examination library.

The agendas for week 2 of the Examination Hearings are now available in the 'Inspectors' and programme officers' examination documents' folder in the examination library.

The agendas for week 1 of the Examination Hearings are now available in the 'Inspectors' and programme officers' examination documents' folder in the examination library.

EX.PO.002 - the draft Programme for the Examination Hearing sessions has now been updated and assigns those who have requested to be heard to particular sessions (as agreed with the Inspectors). 

If you have requested to speak please look at the updated programme and advise the Programme Officers as soon as possible if there is an issue. 

There are two principal changes to the timetabling of the programme. The first is Matter 4 on Economy and Retail/Town Centres which is now scheduled to start slightly earlier at 9.30am on Thursday 17 October and is programmed to conclude by 1pm (although the afternoon is held in reserve if required). 

The second is Matter 5 on Housing Sites which is now re-structured to sit over two days (Tuesday 22 October and Wednesday 23 October), with a third day (Thursday 24 October) held in reserve.

Participants are reminded that the Inspectors’ role is to examine the Plan as submitted by the borough council, including the soundness of the proposed sites. It is not the role of the Inspectors to directly consider sites that have not been allocated (known as omission sites). 

Where participants are promoting omission sites the Inspectors have generally assigned participants to either Matter 1 (the general site selection process), Matter 2 (the overall strategy including strategic gaps and green wedges) and/or Matter 6 (overall housing land supply

The revised programme EX.PO.002 is now available in the 'Inspectors' and Programme Officers' examination documents' section in the examination library.

Please be aware that an updated EX.INS.003 Guidance Notes for Participants document has been published.

The guidance advises if a participant submits a Hearing Statement, this will be published on the council’s website and will be available for the public to view. Correspondence sent to the programme officers may be sent to the Planning Inspectors and may also be published on the website.

The revised Guidance Notes for Participants are now available in the Inspectors' and programme officers' examination documents section in the examination library.

The following documents are now available in the 'Inspectors’ and programme officers’ examination documents' section in the examination library:

• EX.INS.003 - Inspectors’ Guidance Notes
• EX.INS.004 - Matters, Issues and Questions
• EX.INS.005 - draft Hearings Programme

The Inspectors issued their initial letter to the council, along with an additional note.

You can find a copy of the Inspectors' initial letter to the council (EX.INS.001) and their additional note (EX.INS.002) in the 'Inspectors’ and programme officers’ examination documents' section in the examination library.

The Planning Inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State, has appointed:

• David Spencer BA(Hons) DipTP MRTPI, and
• Bryn Bowker Mplan MRTPI 

to conduct the examination to determine whether the Chesterfield Borough Council Local Plan is sound.

The council submitted the Chesterfield Borough Council Local Plan 2018-2033 to the Secretary of State on 28 June 2019 for independent examination, in line with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (2) - Regulation 22.

Currently there are no plans to extend the consultation beyond the existing deadline of 17th April 2020, but the situation is being regularly reviewed in consultation with the Programme Officer and Planning Inspector. If there is any change to this we will contact all those who have asked to be kept informed of Local Plan progress with details of any revised arrangements

The council appreciates that during this difficult time it may not be possible to visit the library or contact centre to view consultation documents. However, all documentation is available electronically on this website.

Planning officers are able to respond to emails sent to local.plan@chesterfield.gov.uk if there are any queries.

Please note that due to Strategic Planning being considered a lower priority service, unfortunately we do not currently have the facility to answer phone calls, although voicemail messages will be monitored intermittently.