Local plan examination

23 April 2025: Please note that, in accordance with the Inspector’s Matters, Issue and Questions (EX/INS/03a), when notifying the Programme Officer of the intention to participate in the hearing sessions they must also indicate which matter/question number this relates to, and who they will be representing (where relevant).

 Also, the same document states that statements should only respond to the questions which directly relate to their previously submitted written representations on the Plan and should clearly indicate the question(s) you are answering. Separate statements should be submitted on each Matter and should clearly show which questions are being answered and should not, in total, exceed 3,000 words per Matter. Extensive appendices will not be accepted and will be returned.

 Failure to comply with the Inspector’s requirements may result in emails and/or statements being returned and not accepted

11 April 2025

The Council has submitted the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report 2021 (EX/NBC/09) which was unknowingly omitted at submission.

10 April 2025

Due to a number of typographical errors coming to light the Inspector has issued revised Matters, Issues and Questions (EX/INS/03a) and Guidance Note (EX/INS/04a) documents. The changes do not affect the actual content of either document and the changes merely amend matters and questions numbering and clarification of hearing dates.

• The hearing dates are confirmed as 20-23 May, 27-30 May and 17-19 June

• The hearing date description for 18 June is now “Matter 10 Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Rural Matters”

• The hearing date description for 19 June is now “Matter 11 Infrastructure, Transport and Delivery”

• The numbering of the questions for Matter 4 now starts with a 4

• The numbering of the questions for Matter 11 now starts with a 11

4 April 2025

The Programme Officer has written to everyone who made a representation at the Final Draft consultation stage (EX/INS/02) providing them with a copy of the required statutory notice (EX/NBC/08) which informs everyone that the Hearings into the Public Examination of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Local Plan will commence in-person at 10:00 on Tuesday 20 May 2025 at the:

Council Offices
Castle House
Barracks Road
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Staffordshire
ST5 1BL

The Inspector has published her Matters, Issues and Questions (MIQs) (EX/INS/03) and Hearing Guidance Note (EX/INS/04). The deadline for receipt of comments on the MIQS if 5:00pm Thursday 1 May 2025 and the must be completed and submitted in accordance with Hearing Guidance Note.

The Council has also submitted a number of other documents:

EX/NBC/07 - PSD3 Query

EX/SCG/04 - NUL and Cheshire East Draft - Supplementary March 2025

EX/SCG/05 - NUL and Indurent re AB2

EX/SCG/06 - NUL and JCB re BW1

3 April 2025

The council has submitted a suite of documents relating to flood risk:

N.B. the council is aware of a technical issue with some of the maps in Appendix C which it is looking to resolve. Please contact the council at planningpolicy@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk if you are experiencing any issues with downloading and using the Appendix C documents and using the Appendix C documents attached to the Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

26 March 2025

The council have submitted a suite of documents in relation to their further work with Natural England:

EX/NBC/03 - Covering letter regarding Natural England

EX/NBC/03a - Appendix 1 Air Quality Assessment

EX/NBC/03b - Appendix 2 Habitats Regulations Assessment March 2025

EX/NBC/03c - Appendix 3 Statement of Common Ground NUL and Natural England

For completeness, the SoCG had also been added to the Examination Library in the document group with all other SoCGs and has the reference EX/SCG/03

The council has also submitted a further SoCG (EX/SCG/02) between NUL and Sports England.

19 February 2025

Following an agreed extension to the deadline by the Inspector the Council has submitted a response (EX/NBC/01) to the Inspector's Initial Questions (EX/INS/01a) 

The council has also submitted an update to the Council's Local Development Scheme (EX/NBC/02)

6 February 2025

The Inspector reissued her letter to the Council of 4 February due to an error with a date. The amended letter is EX/NBC/01a.

4 February 2025

The Inspector has sent a letter to the council setting out her Initial Questions.

20 January 2025

Inspector A Jordan BA (Hons) MRTPI from the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has been appointed by the Secretary of State to carry out the independent examination of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough local plan 2020-2040.

2 January 2025

A new set of examination webpages has been created.

20 December 2024

The Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council local plan 2020 - 2040 has been submitted to the Secretary of State for public examination.

Further information

For any questions, please contact planningpolicy@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk