(copied from an email)

As you may be aware, Mr Mike Fox was appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to carry out an independent examination of the Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan 2011 to 2029.  The examination hearing sessions commenced in October 2015 and concluded in November.

Having carefully considered the views of those who responded to consultations on the draft Local Plan, and taking into account the advice in national guidance, the Inspector has concluded that the plan is ‘sound’, subject to a number of ‘main modifications’.

An electronic copy of the Inspector’s Report, covering letter and schedule of main modifications can be viewed on the Borough Council’s website at: http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/planningpolicy. A letter from the borough council is also attached. A hard copy of the Inspector’s Report is available at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Offices between the hours of 8:30am and 5:00pm on Mondays to Thursdays and 8:30am and 4.30pm on Fridays and all local libraries.

It is proposed that the Borough Council will seek adoption of the Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan 2011 to 2029 at the meeting of Full Council on 26 May 2016.  At this point, it will form the development plan for the Borough, and will guide development in the period up to 2029 and provide a framework for Neighbourhood Plans.  Upon adoption, this will supersede the Adopted Local Plan 1996 – 2011 and I will write to you again once the plan has been adopted.

I would like to thank you for your interest in the preparation of the Local Plan to date, and for the time taken to submit comments on drafts of the plan in recent years.

If you have any queries about the Local Plan and the process for adoption, please contact the Planning Policy Team by telephoning 01256 845450 or 01256 845536 or by emailing the team at:  local.plan@basingstoke.gov.uk

Kind regards

Planning Policy Team