The Inspectors and Programme Officer
The Secretary of State appointed Laura Graham BSC MA MRTPI as the Inspector from the Planning Inspectorate to carry out an independent examination of the South Cambridgeshire and Cambridge Local Plans. Their task was to establish whether the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan is ‘sound’. She was assisted by an Assistant Inspector – Alan Wood MSC FRICS.
Gloria Alexander was the Programme Officer assisting the Inspectors.
The examination process
Pre-Hearing meeting
This meeting held by the Inspectors on 11 September 2014 explained the format of the examination
Publication of Matters and Issues
These are the matters and issues that the Inspectors identified for consideration at the hearings. The list of matters and issues was updated during the examination process
Production of written statements
These statements were written by the Council(s) and objectors in response to the Inspectors’ Matters and Issues and may include Statements of Common Ground.
Hearing Sessions
The Inspectors held hearing sessions to clarify and / or seek additional information on any issues relating to the 'soundness' of the Local Plan. Members of the public were able to attend the hearing sessions to observe proceedings.
Preliminary Conclusions
The Inspectors issued some preliminary conclusions in May 2015, and as a result the examination was suspended until March 2016 whilst the Councils undertook additional work.
Main Modifications
The Inspectors provided their list of Main Modifications that they considered may be necessary in order for the Local Plans to be found ‘sound’, and asked that the Councils carried out consultation on them.
Inspectors’ Report
This gives the Inspectors recommendations, and concluded that the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan is ‘sound’ provided that some main modifications were made.
Throughout the examination process there was correspondence between the Inspectors and the Council(s).
All the examination correspondence and documents, including written statements and the Inspectors Report, are published in our document library.