Local Plan Examination

The Darlington Local Plan 2016-2036 was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for examination on 22 December 2020.

All updates about the Local Plan Examination process, timetable and other relevant information are available to view on this page.

Local Plan Adoption - 17 February 2022

In accordance with the 2012 Regulations the following documents have been made available as soon as practicable:

The Darlington Borough Local Plan 2016 – 2036 [pdf document]

The Adoption Statement [pdf document], and

The Sustainability Appraisal Report [pdf document] and Sustainability Appraisal Addendum [pdf document]

A copy of the Policies Map [pdf document] to accompany the Darlington Borough Local Plan 2016 - 2036 is also available.

Local Plan Inspector's Report and Modifications

Following an independent examination by the Planning Inspectorate of the Darlington Local Plan 2016 – 2036, the council received the Inspector's report on 28 January 2022. The appointed Inspector, Mr William Fieldhouse BA (Hons) MA MRTPI, concluded that with the recommended main modifications (consulted on between 19 October and 30 November 2021), the Darlington Local Plan 2016 - 2036 is sound and compliant with the legal requirements. The report can be viewed here:

Inspector's Report

Inspector's Report DBLP [pdf document]

Inspector's Report DBLP Appendix - Main Modifications [pdf document]

Additional Modifications

Minor Modifications Schedule [pdf document]

Policies Map Modifications Schedule [pdf document]

Adoption of the Local Plan

The conclusions of the Inspector's report means that the council can proceed towards adoption of the Local Plan. This will be considered by Cabinet on 8 February 2022 and Full Council on 17 February 2022. Agendas and papers can be viewed here.

Planning Inspector

William Fieldhouse BA (Hons) MA MRTPI was appointed by the Secretary of State on 4 January 2021 to conduct an independent examination of the Local Plan.

Programme Officer

The Programme Officer for the Darlington Local Plan examination is no longer available. If you have an enquiry please contact Planning Policy directly on (01325) 406724 or [email protected]

Latest news and updates

View the latest news and updates

Consultation on Proposed Main Modifications

Consultation on the proposed main modifications, changes to the policies map, and updates to the sustainability appraisal and habitat regulations assessment was carried out between 19 October and 30 November 2021. All of the representations have been published (as PD08), along with the Council’s summary of the main issues raised and its responses (as requested by the Inspector). The Inspector will now consider all of the representations, and the Council’s responses, before finalising his report. Unless the Inspector considers it essential to deal with substantial issues raised in representations about the proposed main modifications, or to ensure fairness, no further hearing sessions will be held. No further representations about the modifications, or other parts of the Plan, will be accepted.

Hearing sessions

Examination hearing sessions were held between 25 May and 24 June 2021.

Video recordings of all of those sessions are available to view via the links below.

A further hearing session will be held on Tuesday 7 September 2021 to consider some of the Council’s responses to action points and some of its proposed main modifications.

An agenda and participants list for this session has now been published below.

View the sessions by clicking on the relevant link below:

Due to the current coronavirus legislation and restrictions, and the related capacity issues at Darlington Town Hall, the hearing sessions will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams. All of the sessions will be broadcast on YouTube [external link].

To view the hearing session live, please follow the link to You Tube, click on ‘Uploads’ above the thumbnail images and choose ‘live now’.

The dates on which each matter will be discussed, and participants for each session, is set out in Inspector’s Note No. 4 was published in early April.