New Local Plan Review - Examination

Receipt of the Inspector's report and conclusion of the examination

5 July 2024

The Council received the Inspector’s Report into the examination of the New Local Plan Review (NLPR) on 5 July 2024, and this concludes the examination process. The Inspector found the policies ‘sound’ subject to "Main Modifications" appended to her report. For completeness, the Council has made a number of Additional Modifications to correct typographical errors and update factual information. These do not affect the soundness of the NLPR. All of these documents can be found below:

Introduction

The Council has been working on a New Local Plan Review (NLPR) since late 2020. Following four rounds of public consultation on 1 February 2023 Full Council approved the NLPR for submission to the Secretary of State for examination. The NLPR was submitted to the Secretary of State on 8 February 2023 and all the submitted documents are available on the links below under the heading Core Documents.

All the responses received to the last Publication Policies (Regulation 19) consultation are available on-line. The examination will include public hearings. Anyone can attend to observe the hearings but only those who made an objection to the Publication Policies (Regulation 19) consultation may be invited to participate by the Planning Inspector. Those who are invited to participate in the examination should read the Planning Inspectorate's Procedure Guide for Local Plan Examinations.The Planning Inspectorate have produced a short guide for those taking part in a local plan examination.

This webpage will be continually updated as the NLPR progresses through examination.

Inspector

The Secretary of State has appointed Planning Inspector L Nurser BA (Hons) Dip UP MRTPI to hold an independent examination of the New Local Plan Review. The Planning Inspector will consider the soundness of the NLPR based on the 'tests of soundness' set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Programme Officer

Ms Helen Wilson has been appointed as the Programme Officer by the Council. Helen is impartial and will work under the direction of the appointed Inspector; she will coordinate all communication between the parties to the Examination and the Inspector. You can contact Helen on [email protected] or call 07879 443035.

Examination news

    30 January 2024

    Following examination hearings in June/July 2023, a number of proposed Main Modifications have been identified by the Inspector to make the NLPR sound. The Council is consulting on these Main Modifications for 6 weeks (30 January to 12 March). Find all the details and respond to the consultation.

    The Examination Documents Listhas been updated to include new documents published with the Proposed Main Modifications consultation.

    25 January 2024

    The Council has written a letter to the Inspector formally requesting to recommend any Main Modifications necessary to make the Plan sound.

    The Examination Documents List has been updated to include the letter.

    15 January 2024

    The Council has produced a statement in response to a Written Ministerial Statement on planning local energy efficiency standards for housing published on 13 December 2023 to comment on any implications for Policy GB4: Energy and Net Zero Carbon.

    The Council has produced a statement in response to the Government's update of 19 December 2023 to Annex 1 of the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS) to comment on any implications for Policy HO8: Gypsies and Traveller Accommodation.

    The Examination Documents List has been updated to include these new documents.

    25 October 2023

    The Council has received a Post Hearings letter from the Inspector requesting the Council to prepare a schedule of Main Modifications (MMs) for formal consultation based on the MMs referred to in accompanying appendix.

    The Examination Document List has been updated to include these documents.

    4 October 2023

    The Council has received a letter from the Inspector stating that the Inspector is confident that with main modifications the New Local Plan Review is capable of being found sound and that the legal tests have been met, including the Duty to Co-operate. Please note that the Inspector will provide details of the main modifications which will be required under a separate letter.

    The Examination Document List has been updated to include these documents.

    Examination Documents list

    This is the latest list of documents informing the examination. This includes the responses to the Inspector’s Matters, Issues and Questions as well as other documents requested by the Inspector in the course of the hearings. The Examination Documents list has been updated to include new documents published with the Proposed Main Modifications consultation.

    Examination Document List (5 February 2024).

    Past news

    View past news

    14 September 2023

    The Inspector visited the Stable Way Travellers site on 12 September 2023. The note of the site visit was submitted to the Inspector following the site visit.

    The Examination Document List has been updated to include this document.

    11 September 2023

    The Council has submitted all remaining Action Points to the Inspector, including the following:

    The Examination Documents List has been updated to include these new documents.

    31 August 2023

    In response to Matter 4, Action point 4, a Statement of Common Ground was produced and signed between the Council and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham with regard to Site Allocation Policy SA2 Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre. The following documents have also been appended to the Statement of Common Ground:

    The Examination Document List has been updated to include these documents.

    24 July 2023

    The Hearing Actions Points for the three weeks of hearings have been published.

    The Examination Documents List has been updated to reflect these.

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    24 August 2023

    In the earlier published "Week 3 Hearing Action Points" document, Action Points reference numbering has gone wrong for Matter 9 from page 10 onwards. The document has been amended to ensure the correct reference numbers.

    The Examination Document List has been updated to include the amended version of this document.

    21 August 2023

    The Inspector visited the Earl's Court site on 15 August 2023. The note of the site visit and supporting site plans were submitted to the Inspector following the site visit.

    The Examination Document List has been updated to include this document.

    17 August 2023

    An earlier submitted letter in response to Matter 5, Action point 25, written by the GLA to the Council with regard the London Plan Housing Target (20 July 2023) was mistakenly dated year 2022 instead of 2023. The letter has been amended and resubmitted to the Inspector with the correct date.

    The Examination Document List has been updated to include the amended version of this document.

    16 August 2023

    In response to Matter 5, Action points 3 and 25, the Council has produced and submitted to the Inspector an updated Housing Trajectory.

    The Examination Document List has been updated to include this document.

    8 August 2023

    In response to Matter 4, Action point 7, the Council has produced and submitted to the Inspector a set of documents related to Edenham Way Site Allocation (SA7) building heights:

    In response to Matter 4, Action point 12, a Statement of Common Ground was produced and signed between the Council and the Environment Agency (EA).

    27 July 2023

    Please note that the Inspector has extended the deadline to Friday 25 August, for the Statement of Common Ground to be submitted between LBHF and RBKC on building heights for Earls Court (EX11 - Matter 4 no, 4 refers).

    21 July 2023

    In response to Matter 5, Action point 25, the GLA have written to the Council with regard the London Plan Housing Target (20 July 2023).  

    In response to matter 8, Action point 17, The Council has added the GLA’s Characterisation and Growth Strategy LPG to the examination webpage. 

    The Examination Document List has been updated to include this document.

    20 July 2023

    The Council has proposed some further main modifications concerning Policy GB20, Contaminated Land.

    The Examination Document List has been updated to include this document.

    19 July 2023

    In response to Matter 10, Actions 1 and 2, the Council has provided a briefing note setting out what constitutes public land and how zero benchmark land value for public land has been calculated and factored into the viability study.

    The Examination Document List has ben updated to include this document.

    17 July 2023

    The Inspector has issued agendas for days seven to nine of the hearings 

    Tuesday 18 July Matters 10 and 8:  Social Infrastructure, Transport and Viability and Conservation & Design, Tall Buildings
    Wednesday 19 July Matters 8 and 9:  Conservation and Design, Tall Buildings and Climate Change and Environment
    Thursday 20 July Matters 9 and 11: Climate Change and Environment and Implementation, Delivery and Monitoring

    The Examination documents list has been updated to include these new documents.

    12 July 2023

    In response to Matter 4, Action 2, TfL have provided this note concerning SA1 Kensal.

    At the request of the Inspector the Council has provided 

    Further main modifications to the housing trajectory An amendment to the Local Plan Appx 1


    All sessions will start at 10am unless otherwise notified.

    12 April 2023

    Following the Council's submission of its New Local Plan for examination on 8 February 2023, the Secretary of State has appointed Planning Inspector Louise Nurser BA (Hons) Dip UP MRTPI to hold an independent examination of the New Local Plan Review. You can view all submitted documents on the links below.

    The Planning Inspector will be holding hearing sessions, which will be held in public, in Committee Room 1, at the Town Hall, Hornton Street, W8 7NX, on the following dates:

    Tuesday 20 June to Thursday 22 June 2023 Tuesday 11 July to Thursday 13 July 2023 Tuesday 18 July to Thursday 20 July 2023

    The Inspector has issued a note concerning the drafting of a Statement of Common Ground between the Council and Historic England.

    7 June 2023 

    The Inspector has issued an updated Hearings Timetable.

    6 June 2023

    The Examination Documents List is now available and all statements are available to download and view.

    15 May 2023

    The Inspector has issued her response to the Council’s Schedule of Minor Modifications. It can be viewed here.

    12 May 2023

    The Inspector has issued three documents relating to the forthcoming examination:

    Draft Hearings Timetable The Inspector’s Matters, Issues and Questions for discussion at the examination hearings   Guidance note from the Inspector concerning the examination hearings

    16 June 2023

    A Statement of Common Ground, dated 16 June 2023, has been agreed between the Council and Historic England.

    At the request of the inspector the Council has issued an appendix to the Housing Trajectory.  The Inspector has issued an update to the Examination Documents List.

    16 June 2023

    The examination hearings will be available to view via a livestream to the Council’s YouTube channel. The links for the first week’s hearings are available below. The links for the subsequent hearings will be made available in due course.

    Tuesday 20 June Wednesday 21 June Thursday 22 June

    28 June 2023

    The Hearings Action Points for Week 1 have now been published.

    The Examination Documents List has been updated to reflect this.

    27 June 2023

    The Inspector has issued an update to the Examination Documents List.

    19 June 2023

    The Inspector has issued agendas for the first three days of the hearings.

    Tuesday 20 June Matter1 : Legal and Procedural Requirements.  Wednesday 21 June Matters 2 and 3: Duty to co-operate and Vision and Objectives and Spatial Strategy  Thursday 22 June Matter 4: Opportunity Area Sites and Site Allocations

    The Inspector has issued Further Questions relating to Matter 5: Housing.

    The Examination Documents List has been updated to include these new documents.

    5 July 2023

    The examination hearings will be available to view via a livestream to the Council’s YouTube channel. The links for the next six days of hearings are available below.  

    Tuesday 11 July Wednesday 12 July Thursday 13 July Tuesday 18 July Wednesday 19 July Thursday 20 July

    The Examination Document List has been updated to include these new documents.

    6 July 2023

    The Inspector has issued agendas for days four to six of the hearings.

    Tuesday 11 July Matter 5: Housing Wednesday 12 July: Matter 5: Housing (continued) Thursday 13 July: Matters 6, 7 and 10: Business, Town Centre Development and Social Infrastructure and Transport.

    The Examination Document List has been updated to include these documents.

    11 July 2023

    At the request of the Inspector the Council has provided some additional information.

    An update to the Housing Trajectory Appx 1 7/23 An update to the Housing Trajectory Appx 1 7/23 Cumulative completions Housing Trajectory 7/23 Main Mods Responses to the further housing questions issued by the Inspector.

    Hearings streaming links

    You can view recordings of each of the hearing sessions on the Council’s YouTube channel.

    • Tuesday 20 June: Matter1: Legal and Procedural Requirements. 
    • Wednesday 21 June: Matters 2 and 3: Duty to co-operate and Vision and Objectives and Spatial Strategy 
    • Thursday 22 June: Matter 4: Opportunity Area Sites and Site Allocations
    • Tuesday 11 July: Matter 5: Housing
    • Wednesday 12 July: Matter 5: Housing (continued)
    • Thursday 13 July: Matters 6, 7, 8 and 10: Business, Town Centre Development and Social Infrastructure
    • Tuesday 18 July: Matters 10 and 8: Social Infrastructure, Transport and Viability and Conservation and Design and Tall Buildings.
    • Wednesday 19 July: Matters 8 and 9: Conservation and Design, Tall Buildings and Climate Change and the Environment
    • Thursday 20 July:  Matters 9 and 11: Climate Change and the Environment and Implementation, Delivery and Monitoring.

    Hearings action points

    Matter 1: Legal and Procedural Requirements

    Matter 4: Opportunity Area Sites and Allocations

    Matter 5: Housing

    Matter 7: Town Centre Development

    Matter 8: Conservation and Design, Tall Buildings

    Matter 10: Social Infrastructure, Transport and Viability

    • Action Points 1 and 2 – RBKC briefing note setting out what constitutes public land and how zero benchmark land value for public land has been calculated and factored into the viability study

    Examination timetable

    The Inspector has issued the timetable for the forthcoming examination. This includes those invited by the Inspector to participate at each hearing session.

    Core documents

    1. New Local Plan Review – Policy Development

    CD1/01

    Publication Policies (Regulation 19), October 2022

    CD1/02

    Proposed Main Modifications, January 2023

    CD1/03

    Proposed Minor Modifications, January 2023

    CD1/04

    Proposals Map

    CD1/05

    Draft Policies (Regulation 18), February 2022

    CD1/06

    Issues and Options, July 2021

    CD1/07

    Issues, September 2020

    2. Current Development Plan and other current documents

    CD2/01

    Local Plan 2019

    CD2/02

    London Plan 2021

    CD2/03

    St Quintin and Woodlands Neighbourhood Plan, July 2018

    CD2/04

    Statement of Community Involvement, February 2020

    CD2/05

    Local Development Scheme, January 2022

    CD2/06

    RBKC Council Plan 2019 to 2023, Council Plan Update March 2022

    3. Consultation

    CD3/01

    Consultation Statement, January 2023

    CD3/01/1.1

    Appendix 1.1 – Regulation 19 Publication Policies Representations Summary

    CD3/01/1.2

    Appendix 1.2 – Regulation 19 Publication Policies responses Schedule

    CD3/01/1.3

    Appendix 1.3 – GiveMyView Results – Regulation 19 Publication Policies

    CD3/01/2.1

    Appendix 2.1 – Regulation 18 Draft Policies Representations Summary

    CD3/01/2.2

    Appendix 2.2 – Regulation 18 Draft Policies Consultation Schedule

    CD3/01/2.3

    Appendix 2.3 – GiveMyView Results - Regulation 18 Draft Policies

    CD3/01/3.1

    Appendix 3.1 – Issues and Options Representations Summary

    CD3/01/3.2

    Appendix 3.2 – Issues and Options Consultation Schedule

    CD3/01/3.3

    Appendix 3.3 – GiveMyView Results - Issues and Options

    CD3/01/4.1

    Appendix 4.1 – Borough Issues Representations Summary

    CD3/01/4.2

    Appendix 4.2 – Borough Issues Consultation Schedule

    CD3/01/4.3

    Appendix 4.3 – GiveMyView Results - Borough Issues

    CD3/02

    Letter of General Conformity from the Mayor of London, December 2022

    CD3/03

    List of Respondents, Publication Policies (Regulation 19)

    CD3/03/005

    Ballymore Group and Sainsbury's

    a / Townscape consultancy

    b / Response to allocation

    c / Kensal Canalside Height and Massing Study

    CD3/03/020

    Native Land

    a / Cover letter

    b / Response form

    CD3/03/021

    St William LLP

    CD3/03/022

    Wellcome Trust

    CD3/03/025

    Earl's Court Development Company

    a/ Cover letter

    b/ Site plan

    c/ Response form

    d/ Viability assessment

    CD3/03/027

    Frasco Investment Ltd

    a/ Cover letter

    b/ Response form

    c/ Design and Tall Building commentary

    d/ Site location

    e/ Market report

    f/ PBSA Demand assessment

    CD3/03/029

    Notting Hill Gate KCS

    CD3/03/031

    Home Builders Federation

    CD3/03/033

    Imperial College

    CD3/03/040

    Kensington Society

    CD3/03/043

    Leufroy Ltd

    CD3/03/048

    Mark Macleod

    CD3/03/056

    National Grid

    a/ Cover letter

    b/ SA1 Asset map

    c/ SA6 Asset map

    CD3/03/062

    Northcare (Scotland)

    CD3/03/073

    Adena Property Investments

    CD3/03/074

    Commercial Estates Group

    CD3/03/079

    St Quintin and Woodlands Neighbourhood Forum

    CD3/03/085

    TfL TTL Properties

    CD3/03/086

    TfL - London Plan and Planning Obligations 

    CD3/04

    Statement of Representation Procedure, October 2022

    CD3/05

    Submission Notice, February 2023

    4. Duty to Co-operate and Statement of Common Ground

    CD4/01

    Duty to Co-operate Statement

    CD4/02

    Statement of Common Ground

    CD4/03

    Statement of Common Ground: Waste

    CD4/04

    LBHF Position Statement

    5. Integrated Impact Assessment

    CD5/01

    Stage A Scoping Report, July 2021

    CD5/02

    Stage B Interim Report, February 2022

    CD5/03

    Stage B Non-technical summary

    CD5/04

    Stage C Non-technical summary, October 2022

    CD5/05

    Stage C Full Report, October 2022

    CD5/06

    Stage D Non-technical summary, January 2023

    CD5/07

    Stage D Full Report, January 2023

    6. Habitat Regulations Assessment

    CD6/01

    Habitat Regulations Screening, February 2022

    CD6/02

    Response from Natural England, March 2022

    7. Evidence Base
     

    Whole Plan

    CD7/01

    Local Plan Viability Study, September 2022

    CD7/02

    Strategic Flood Risk Assessment - Main Report

    CD7/03

    Strategic Flood Risk Assessment - Addendum Note (PPG Update Oct 2022)

    CD7/04

    Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Maps

     

    Chapter 2: Green-Blue

    CD7/05

    Evidence Study on Greening Issues, July 2021

    CD7/06

    Draft Towards Net Zero Carbon Study, January 2023

    CD7/07

    Future Waste Data Study, February 2022

    CD7/08

    Open Spaces Audit, October 2022

     

    Chapter 3: Homes

    CD7/09

    Local Housing Needs Assessment, September 2022 (Executive Summary)

    CD7/10

    Local Housing Needs Assessment, September 2022 (Full Report)

    CD7/11

    RBKC Five Year Housing Land Supply and Stepped Housing Trajectory, October 2022

    CD7/12

    Joint Gypsy and Travellers Needs Assessment, October 2022

     

    Chapter 4: Conservation and Design

    CD7/13

    Tall buildings threshold, October 2022

    CD7/14

    Character Study, February 2022

     

    Chapter 5: Town Centres

    CD7/15

    Future Nature of Centres, January 2022

    CD7/16

    Retail and Leisure Needs Assessment, January 2022

     

    Chapter 6: Business

    CD7/17

    Employment Land Study, October 2021

    CD7/18

    Permitted Development Rights Retail Analysis, March 2022

     

    Chapter 7: Social and Community Uses

    CD7/19

    Sports Facilities Assessment, October 2022

     

    Chapter 10: Site Allocations

    CD7/20

    Heritage Impact Assessments for Draft Local Plan Site Allocations, October 2022

    CD7/21

    Kensal Canalside Baseline Document, July 2021

    CD7/22

    Kensal Canalside Bridge Location and Ramp Approach Options Study, April 2019

    CD7/23

    Kensal Canalside Creative Workspace Strategy, March 2020

    CD7/24

    Kensal Canalside Opportunity Area - Strategic Transport Report, March 2021

    CD7/25

    Kensal Canalside Development Infrastructure Funding Study, October 2016 

    CD7/26

    Kensal Canalside Development Infrastructure Funding Study Refresh, February 2021

    CD7/27

    Kensal Canalside Development Infrastructure Funding Study Refresh, Appendix, February 2021 

    CD7/28

    Flood Risk Sequential Test, October 2022

    CD7/29

    Earl's Court Cultural Study, July 2022

    CD7/30

    Earl's Court Site Allocation Viability Study, December 2021

    CD7/31

    Earl's Court Site - Addendum: Reg 18 response to Quod, August 2022

    CD7/32

    Site Allocations Paper, October 2022

    CD7/33

    RBKC Opportunity Areas Building Heights Analysis, February 2022 - Main Report

    CD7/34

    RBKC Opportunity Area Building Heights Analysis, February 2022 - Appendix A: Kensal Canalside OA Capacity Study

    CD7/35

    RBKC Opportunity Area Building Heights Analysis, February 2022 - Appendix B: Earl's Court OA Capacity Study 

    CD7/36

    RBKC Green Corridors (TfL site at Portobello/Ladbroke Grove)

    CD7/37

    RBKC SINC Proforma Hammersmith and City lineside (TfL site at Portobello/Ladbroke Grove)

     

    Chapter 11: Infrastructure

    CD7/38

    Local Infrastructure Delivery Plan, October 2022

    8. Policy Formulation Reports (PFRs)
     

    Chapter 1: Introduction

    CD8/01

    PFR for the Vision

     

    Chapter 2: Green-Blue

    CD8/02

    PFR GB1- GB5 (Sustainable retrofitting, circular economy, carbon reduction)

    CD8/03

    PFR GB6-BG10 and GB20 (Air quality, construction, noise, pollution and contaminated land)

    CD8/04

    PFR GB11-GB14 (Flooding, sustainable drainage and riverside development)

    CD8/05

    PFR GB15-GB17 (Green infrastructure, parks and gardens, biodiversity and trees)

    CD8/06

    PFR GB19 (Waste)

     

    Chapter 3: Homes

    CD8/07

    PFR HO1-HO2 (Delivery and protection of homes, small sites)

    CD8/08

    PFR HO3-HO7 (Community housing, housing size and standards, specialist housing, other housing products and estate renewal)

    CD8/09

    PFR HO8 (Gypsies and travellers)

     

    Chapter 4: Conservation and Design

    CD8/10

    PFR CD3 - CD6 (Conservation areas, listed buildings ancient monuments and registered parks and gardens)

    CD8/11

    PFR CD7 (Tall buildings)

    CD8/12

    PFR CD1,2,11 and 14 (Design)

    CD8/13

    PFR CD15 (Fire safety)

     

    Chapter 5: Town Centres

    CD8/14

    PFR TC1- TC5 (Development in town centres)

    CD8/15

    PFR TC8 (Hotels)

     

    Chapter 6: Business

    CD8/16

    PFR BC1 and BC3 (Businesses and affordable workspaces)

     

    Chapter 7: Social and Community Uses

    CD8/17

    PFR SI1 Social infrastructure and facilities

     

    Chapter 8: Transport

    CD8/18

    PFR T1, T3 and T4 (Street network, living streets and outdoor life and streetscape)

    CD8/19

    PRF T5 to T9 (Land use and transport, active travel, public transport, car parking and servicing)

     

    Chapter 10: Site Allocations

    CD8/20

    PFR Kensal Canalside site allocation 

    CD8/21

    PFR Earl's Court site allocation

    CD8/22

    PFR Site Allocations SA3 - SA16 (Other sites)

     

    Chapter 11: Infrastructure

    CD8/23

    PFR Infrastructure and planning contributions

    9. Planning Advisory Service (PAS) Toolkits

    CD9/01

    PAS Toolkit Part 2 - Local Plan Form and Content Checklist

    CD9/02

    PAS Toolkit Part 3 - Local Plan Process Requirements Checklist

    CD9/03

    PAS Toolkit Part 4 - Local Plan Soundness and Quality Assessment

    Paper copies of key documents are also available to view at the Town Hall, Hornton Street, as well as within the Council's libraries. The Town Hall is open during normal office hours.  Find details of your local library's opening hours.

    Please email [email protected] or phone the planning line on 020 7361 3012 if you need any of the documents in a different language or in a different format.

    Last updated: 20 August 2024