AN EXAMINATION of Solihull Council’s local plan has been paused.
The planning inspectorate has halted its investigations into the plan, which will provide the blueprint for the borough for the next decade, until the finalised version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has been published.
The results are expected during the spring.
In a letter to the Council inspectors Kevin War and Kelly Ford said: “Given that the proposed revisions are subject to consultation and may well change as a result, it would be appropriate to wait until the finalised version is published.
“With this in mind we propose a pause to the examination until the revisions to the NPPF have been finalised and published.”
A consultation was carried out by the Government on plans to change the framework on issues such as giving residents a greater say on where developments should take place and scrapping the Council’s duty to cooperate – where neighbouring authorities work together to hit a housing target.
In a letter in response to the letter Gary Palmer, group manager for policy and engagement growth and development at Solihull Council, said: The Council, therefore, reluctantly, supports your proposal to pause the examination until the revisions to the NPPF have been finalised and published.”
Councillor Mackiewicz, the cabinet member for Climate Change, Planning and Housing, said: “It is important that the Local Plan examination is given an opportunity to take into account the latest Government planning reforms that are expected to the NPPF.
“Whilst the Council acknowledges that this will add a delay to getting the plan adopted, it is more important to ensure that it is the right plan for our borough.”
