South Worcestershire Development Plan Review 2021 – 2041

The Local Plan, the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR), was submitted to the Secretary of State on 27 September 2023. The Local Plan was subject to independent examination carried out by Phillip Lewis BA (Hons) MA MRTPI and Elaine Worthington BA (Hons) MTP MUED MRTPI IHBC, two Planning Inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State. The Inspectors chaired public meetings between 4 March 2025 and 4 September 2025. Following the hearings, ‘main’ and ‘additional’ modifications were subject to public consultation over a six-week period between 6 January 2026 and 17 February 2026.

In the Inspectors’ report issued to the South Worcestershire Councils on 12 March 2026 the Inspectors confirmed that subject to the main modifications recommended, the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review 2021 – 2041 is considered to be sound and legally compliant. Pursuant to Section 23 (3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the adopted South Worcestershire Development Plan Review 2021 – 2041 incorporates these main modifications, along with additional modifications made by the South Worcestershire Councils. The South Worcestershire Development Plan Review 2021 – 2041 now carries full weight in the consideration of planning applications and replaces the South Worcestershire Development Plan 2016 in its entirety.

In accordance with Regulations 26 and 35 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended), the following documents have been published and are available to view online.

• Adopted South Worcestershire Development Plan Review 2021 – 2041
• South Worcestershire Development Plan Review 2021 – 2041 Adoption Statement (March 2026) 
• Inspectors’ Report and Appendix (March 2026);
  • Inspectors’ Report March 2026
  • Inspectors Main Modifications Appendix March 2026
• The SWDPR Policies Map – Additional background information is currently being finalised and will be displayed on the Policies Map in due course. During this time, the search bar and information functions will be disabled. 
  • Please note: We have been advised by Newgrove, who hosts our mapping through Periscope that it is best to use a Chrome browser to open the Interactive Policies Map.
• The Sustainability Appraisal for the adoption of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review 2021 - 2041

Paper copies of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review 2021 – 2041 and the Inspectors’ report will soon be made available for public inspection at:

Information on Library opening times can be found at: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/council-services/libraries