Examination Overview

Submission

Information will be added here in due course.

Inspector

Information will be added here in due course.

Programme Officer

The role of the Programme Officer is to independently undertake the administration of the examination under the direction of the appointed Planning Inspector(s).  The Programme Officer will liaise between the Planning Inspector(s), Liverpool City Council and the interested parties for the duration of the Local Plan examination.

The Programme Officer can be contacted as follows:

Kerry Trueman

Programme Officer Solutions Ltd

Email: 

Phone: 07582 310364

Post: Pendragon House, 1 Bertram Drive, Meols, Wirral, CH47 0LG

About the examination

Liverpool City Council has prepared a new Local Plan to guide development across Liverpool. The Plan sets out the Council’s planning policies for assessing development proposals and managing future growth, while helping to protect the city’s environment and heritage.

The Plan will be examined by an independent Planning Inspector appointed by the government. The Inspector will consider whether the Plan has been prepared in line with the relevant legal requirements and whether it meets the required tests.

The examination is an independent process. The Inspector will consider the Plan, the evidence supporting it and the representations made by people and organisations.

What does the examination cover?

The Inspector will consider whether the Plan is legally compliant and whether it is sound.

In simple terms, this means looking at whether the Council has followed the correct process and whether the Plan is based on appropriate evidence, is suitable for Liverpool and can be delivered.

The Inspector will decide which matters need to be examined and how the examination will be carried out.

How does the examination work?

The examination may include the following stages:

1. Submission of the Plan

The Council submits the Local Plan and its supporting documents to the government for independent examination. The submitted Plan and the representations received during the formal consultation will form part of the examination.

2. Review of the Plan and evidence

The Inspector reviews the submitted documents, supporting evidence and representations. The Inspector may ask the Council and other participants for further information or clarification.

3. Hearing sessions

The Inspector will hold public hearing sessions to discuss particular issues. These sessions allow the Inspector to ask questions and explore matters raised in representations and the supporting evidence.

The Inspector will decide which issues need to be discussed at hearings and who will be invited to take part. Further information about the hearing arrangements will be published on this website.

4. Proposed changes to the Plan

If changes are needed to make the Plan sound or legally compliant, the Inspector may recommend changes known as Main Modifications. Where required, these will be subject to public consultation before the Inspector reaches a final conclusion.

5. Inspector’s report

At the end of the examination, the Inspector will issue a report setting out their conclusions. The report will explain whether the Plan can proceed and identify any changes required.

6. Adoption of the Plan

Once the examination has concluded, the Council will consider the Inspector’s report and the next steps towards adopting the Plan. If adopted, the new Local Plan will replace the relevant policies in the existing Plan.

The exact stages and arrangements will depend on the requirements that apply to this examination.

What is a representor?

A representor is a person, organisation or business that has submitted comments on the Local Plan during a formal consultation.

Representations may support the Plan, object to parts of it or suggest changes. The representations are submitted to the Planning Inspector as part of the examination.

The Inspector will consider the representations alongside the Plan and its supporting evidence.

Representors will have the opportunity to seek to participate in hearing sessions where relevant to the issues being examined. The Inspector will decide who may participate and which matters need to be discussed at the hearings.

Representors can follow the examination through this website, where relevant documents, hearing information and updates will be published.

How can I take part?

People and organisations can follow the examination through this website. The website will provide access to examination documents, updates, hearing information and other relevant announcements.

The Inspector will decide whether hearing sessions are needed and who may take part in them.

Written representations are also important. The Inspector will consider the representations made during the formal consultation, alongside the Plan and its supporting evidence.

What is the Programme Officer?

The Programme Officer manages the administrative arrangements for the examination and acts as the main point of contact between the Inspector, the Council and participants.

The Programme Officer is independent of the Council’s plan-making team in carrying out this role. They can help with questions about the examination process, hearing arrangements and access to documents.

The Programme Officer does not make decisions about the Plan. Those decisions are made by the Inspector.

Where can I find examination documents?

The examination website will contain the documents relevant to the examination, including the submitted Local Plan, supporting evidence, representations, correspondence, hearing agendas and any other documents issued during the process.

Please check the website regularly for updates and new documents.

For questions about the examination or difficulty accessing documents, please contact the Programme Officer using the details provided on this website.

Is there any national guidance in relation to local plan examinations?

Local plans: the examination process - guidance in relation to the local plan examination process and the role the Planning Inspectorate plays.

Procedure guide for local plan examinations - guide aimed at all those involved in the process and concerned with the procedural aspects of examining a local plan.

Local plans: taking part in examinations - a short guide for those who might be participating in a local plan examination for the first time.