South Worcestershire Development Plan Review Examination
Latest Update - 9 January 2026
EXAMINATION LATEST NEWS & TIMELINE
The Councils are currently consulting on Main Modifications and Associated Documents. The consultation is due to close at 5pm on the 17th February 2026. Further details can be found on the Councils' Consultation Portal.
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Live-Streaming
The Initial SWDPR Hearings were live-streamed to YouTube and available to watch via this link. The further hearing session held virtually was not live-streamed but has been recorded and uploaded to the Councils' YouTube Channel.
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9th January 2026 - EXAM 53A - Local Development Scheme - December 2025 published.
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6th January 2026 - Main Modifications Consultation commenced.
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THE INSPECTORS
Planning Inspectors; P Lewis BA(Hons) MA MRTPI and E Worthington BA(Hons) MTP MUED MRTPI have been appointed to undertake an independent examination into the soundness and legal compliance of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (the Plan).
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The Inspectors' task will be to consider the soundness and legal compliance of the submitted Plan, based on the criteria set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2023 (the Framework) and associated regulations., namely the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Localism Act 2011 and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.
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The Inspectors will take into account the representations submitted upon the Regulation 19 Draft Plan as far as they relate to soundness considerations. A number of informal debates will take place on the principal matters identified by the Inspector these are termed Hearing Sessions.
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At the end of the Examination, the Inspectors will prepare a report to the Local Planning Authorities with precise recommendations, these recommendations may include modifications to the Plan, if such a request is made by the Council.
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IAN KEMP - PROGRAMME OFFICER
My role is to act as the point contact for any person who has an interest in the Examination and as a liaison between the Inspectors, Local Planning Authorities and Representors. ​I am an independent Officer of the Examination and work on behalf of the Inspectors to organise and manage the administrative and procedural elements of the Examination process. ​Any matters that anyone wishes to raise with the Inspectors should be submitted to me in the first instance.
Address: ​PO Box 241, Droitwich, Worcestershire, WR9 1DW
Email: ​​ian@localplanservices.co.uk
Telephone: ​07723009166​
GUIDANCE NOTES
Guidance Notes have been prepared by the Inspectors to help people understand the process. Procedural Guidance for Local Plans has also been produced by the Planning Inspectorate, together with a short guide aimed at those participating in a local plan examination for the first time.