Latest Examination News (August 2024)
Examination hearings for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling showpeople Site Allocations and Policies are resuming on 3 and 4 September 2024.
The hearings will be held at The Small Barn, Knight’s Hill Hotel and Spa, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 3HQ. The agenda [G42] sets out the programme and is available to view.
For any further documents and information please see below under the Main Modification consultation information.
Main Modifications Part 1 consultation (August – October 2024)
During the recent Local Plan examination hearings (March and April 2024), the Borough Council has agreed a timetable for consulting upon Main Modifications to the Local Plan. The agreed indicative timetable is set out in the Local Development Scheme (updated April 2024).
The Inspectors have now given the Borough Council the go-ahead to consult upon a Schedule of Main Modifications to the Local Plan (Part 1). This covers all aspects of the Plan, except Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople, which are subject to separate examination hearings (to take place in September 2024) and a Part 2 consultation, scheduled to take place in the autumn (see below).
Main Modification consultations are the final stage(s) in the Local Plan examination process, whereby the Inspectors will consider any representations received at this final stage in the process, before publishing their examination report.
The consultation relates to the following:
- Schedule of Main Modifications Part 1 (July 2024)
- Schedule of Main Modifications to the Policies Map (July 2024)
- Schedule of Additional Modifications (July 2024)
The Main Modifications Part 1 is supported by the following evidence base:
- Sustainability Appraisal update (JBA, June 2024)
- Habitat Regulations Assessment (Footprint Ecology, July 2024)
- Housing Trajectory update April 2024
Further explanation regarding the consultation and the ongoing Local Plan examination process is available through our FAQ document.
The consultation runs for 8-weeks, from 7 August to 2 October 2024 (inclusive). You can access the consultation portal and submit your response below.
Our preference is for you to use the portal, as this will allow us to process your response promptly and efficiently. Please note that the consultation form (portal) contains copies of the full suite of documents, including policies map extracts.
Main Modifications Part 1 consultation form
If you, or a person you represent, would prefer to write a response you can download the consultation form as a PDF or Word document below.
- Main Modifications Part 1 Consultation (downloadable PDF form)
- Main Modifications Part 1 Consultation (downloadable Word form)
The Main Modifications consultations are the penultimate stage(s) in the Local Plan process, before publication of the Inspectors’ report. The Part 1 consultation covers all aspects of the Local Plan except Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople, which will be subject to a separate Main Modifications (Part 2) consultation during autumn 2024 (see below).
Where minor (e.g. factual/ grammatical corrections or updates) or Additional Modifications (as set out in the Additional Modifications schedule), or presentational issues are identified regarding the Policies Map (e.g. cartography), the consultation also provides an opportunity to highlight these and allow for corrections or amendments to be made.
You can scan and email completed forms to lpr@west-norfolk.gov.uk or post them to:
Local Plan 2021-2040 Main Modifications Part 1 Consultation
Planning Policy Team
Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk
Kings Court
Chapel Street
King’s Lynn
PE30 1EX
Representations must be received by 11:59pm on Wednesday, 2 October 2024.
Following the close of the consultation, we will forward all duly-made representations onto the Planning Inspectors.
Summary information about the progress of the Examination will be posted on the latest examination news page.
Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople
Matters, Issues and Questions (MIQs) on Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople’s accommodation needs and sites [G41] have been published (on 25 July 2024). These will be discussed at a Resumed Hearing session on 3 and 4 September 2024, details of which are set out above.
A summary of all previous stages in the progress of the Examination can be found on the Latest Examination News page.
Examination Hearings
The Examination Hearing sessions for all matters and issues have been completed, except for the policies and proposals for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople’s accommodation.
A resumed Examination Hearing session for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople’s accommodation is scheduled to take place on 3 and 4 September 2024. The Hearing will be held at The Small Barn, Knight’s Hill Hotel and Spa, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 3HQ.
The MIQs for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople’s accommodation needs and sites [G41] will form the basis for discussion at that Hearing session. It should be read alongside the Inspectors Resumed Hearing Examination Guidance Note [G22], which explains what to do if you wish to participate in the Hearing session and/or submit a written statement in response to the Inspectors’ questions. An agenda for the discussion will be published in advance of the Hearing session.
All other documents relating to this Hearing session can be found in the Examination Library. The following documents are of particular relevance:
- King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council Gypsy, and Traveller Accommodation Assessment, June 2023 [F44]
- Gypsy and Traveller Proposed Sites and Policy Consultation Document (May 2024) [F93]
- Gypsy and Traveller Site Assessment Document (May 2024) [F94]
- Gypsy and Traveller Sequential and Exceptions Tests (May 2024) [F95]
- Updated Gypsy and Traveller Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level [F96]
- Gypsy and Traveller Sustainability Assessment Addendum Report (May 2024) [B11]
- Habitats Regulations Assessment of Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Sites [F97]
- Gypsy and Traveller Technical Note July 2024 [F115]
- Suggested Changes to the Proposed New Policy on Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople’s accommodation (July 2024) [F116]
Examination Library
Examination documents are available through the Examination Library index.
As the Local Plan examination progresses, other examination documents will be added to the relevant page(s), as necessary.
Other information regarding the Local Plan Review is available on our Local Plan Review (2016 to 2036) page.
Planning Inspectors
Planning Inspectors Karen Baker DipTP MA DipMP MRTPI and Mike Hayden BSc DipTP MRTPI have been appointed by the Secretary of State, to conduct the independent Examination of the Local Plan Review. The Inspectors' task is to consider whether the Council has complied with the legal requirements in preparing the Local Plan Review and whether the submitted Plan is sound, based on the criteria set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2021 (the Framework).
The Inspectors will take into account the representations made in response to the Regulation 19 consultation on the Plan (August September 2021), as far as they relate to soundness and legal compliance considerations. It is likely that a Hearing will take place to discuss the principal matters of soundness identified by the Inspectors, in the form of a series of informal round table discussions. Further details of any Hearing sessions will be notified and added to the website in due course.
At the end of the Examination, the Inspectors will prepare a report to the Council with precise recommendations. It is likely to include main modifications to the Plan to make it sound or legally compliant.
Programme Officer
The Programme Officer, Annette Feeney, will act as the contact for any person who has an interest in the Examination and as a liaison between the Inspectors, Council and Representors.
She is an independent Officer of the Examination and works on behalf of the Inspector to organise and manage the administrative and procedural elements of the Examination process. All examination documents will also be submitted through the Programme Officer.
Any matters that anyone wishes to raise with the Inspectors should be submitted via the Programme Officer.
Contact details
Annette Feeney
Programme Officer c/o
Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk
King’s Court Chapel Street
King’s Lynn
PE30 1EX
Mobile: 07775 771026
Email: annette.feeney@west-norfolk.gov.uk