The three South Worcestershire Councils (SWCs) - Worcester City, Malvern Hills District and Wychavon District Council - started a review of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) in late 2017. This was in response to new Government requirements that Development Plans should be updated every five years.
The review will provide an updated plan up to 2041, will update the existing SWDP and where necessary its vision, objectives, spatial strategy and policies for the future development of the South Worcestershire area.
The second part of the plan includes site allocations, policies and policy designations that will provide for the development needs of the area up to 2041.
SWDP Review Submission
On Wednesday 27 September 2023, following the Regulation 19 consultation in November and December 2022, the south Worcestershire Councils have formally submitted the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) and associated evidence base documents to the Secretary of State for independent examination.
An independent Inspector will be appointed by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) to assess the Plan and its accompanying evidence base. The Inspector will take into account the representations received at the Regulation 19 consultation stage and will likely identify matters to consider as part of the examination. Subsequently, the Council and interested parties will be invited to attend a series of hearing sessions.
The south Worcestershire Councils have appointed a Programme Officer to organise and administer the examination, including the anticipated public hearing sessions. The timings of these sessions will be confirmed in due course.
A dedicated Examination Webpage has been created and all relevant documents are available to view on this page South Worcestershire Development Plan Review | Local Plan Examination Services (localplanservices.co.uk)
SWDP Publication Regulation 19 Public Consultation
The six-week consultation into the publication of the review of the South Worcestershire Development Plan ended at 11.59pm on 23 December 2022.
Details can be found here: SWDPR Regulation 19 Publication consultation page
Timetable for the Review
Councillors from all three councils are currently considering a draft of the review of the SWDP, known as the Regulation 19 Publication. If approved at meetings being held during October. If approved, then the Plan will go through the following stages.
- Regulation 19 Publication Consultation - November and December 2022
- Submission (Regulation 22) – Early 2023. Exact date to be confirmed
- Independent Examination (Regulation 24) – February-May 2023. Exact date to be confirmed.
- Receipt of Inspector’s Report (Regulation 25) – August 2023. Exact date to be confirmed.
- Adoption (Regulation 26) – October 2023. Exact date to be confirmed.
Read the SWDP Review Project Plan in full.
It is our intention to revise the Local Development Scheme (LDS) in early 2023, prior to the submission of the SWDPR to the Planning Inspectorate. The updated LDS will include details on the examination dates and the final milestones before the SWDPR is adopted.
Find out more about Local Development Schemes.
Stages of the SWDP Review
The review has gone through several stages since 2017. These are listed below:
- SWDP Review First Stage Evidence Base
- SWDP Review Issues and Options Consultation
- SWDP Review Preferred Options Consultation
- SWDP Review Further Regulation 18 (III) Sustainability Appraisal Consultation
SWDP Review Publication Consultation (Regulation 19)
From 1 November 2022 until 23 December 2022 at 23:59 we are consulting on the SWDP Review Publication Consultation (Regulation 19) Plan.
This is the last stage of public engagement before the Plan is submitted for formal examination by the Government’s Planning Inspectorate.
The SWDP Review Publication Consultation (Regulation 19) Plan represents what the South Worcestershire Councils consider to be the final version of the Plan.