Independent Examinations of the South Cambridgeshire District Development Plan Documents

This page contains information concerning the Independent Examinations of South Cambridgeshire Local Development Framework Development Plan Documents. These documents are:

Development Plan Documents form part of the Council’s Local Development Framework. For more information about this and the new planning system in general visit the Local Development Framework Section.

At what stage are we?

The process of consultation on the above Development Plan Documents (DPDs) has now ended. Each DPD is now subject to independent scrutiny by way of an Examination, during which time an independent Planning Inspector will consider whether each DPD is ‘sound’. After the Examinations the Inspector will write a report on each DPD containing his recommendations which will be binding on South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Appointment of Inspector

The Examinations into the above DPDs will formally open on Tuesday 11th July 2006 at South Cambridgeshire District Council. The First Secretary of State has appointed two lead Inspectors, Mr Cliff Hughes DipTP MRTPI and Mr Terry Kemmann-Lane JP DipTP FRTPI MCMI to conduct the Examinations.

Appointment of Programme Officer

Gloria Alexander has been appointed as Programme Officer for the Examinations and will deal with all procedural, administrative and programming matters. The Programme Officer is independent of the Council and works directly to the Inspectors. All correspondence for the Inspectors or the Examinations should be addressed to her, see contact information.

Pre-Examination Meeting (PEM)

A Pre-Examination meeting was held at 2.00 pm on Tuesday 25th April 2006. This was a public meeting and all with an interest were welcome to attend. It took place in The Council Chamber, South Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne, Cambs, CB3 6EA.

Purpose of the PEM
The purpose of this PEM was to discuss the administration and procedural aspects for the Examinations, the overall programme for these Examinations and how representations will be dealt with by the Inspectors.

In addition it focussed on the procedures, timetable and deadlines for the first Examination, that dealing with the Core Strategy Development Plan Document. There will be further PEMs prior to the Examinations into the other five DPDs (Development Control Policies, Northstowe Area Action Plan, Southern Fringe Area Action Plan, Cambridge East Area Action Plan, Site Allocation Policies) and the dates for these will be publicised in advance.

Guidance Notes have been sent to all respondents. An agenda was published and sent to all respondents.

All those who made representations on any of the six DPDs were sent details of the forthcoming PEM. The Programme Officer has sent a copy of the Minutes of the PEM to all respondents.