Timeline

Timeline of Examination news and updates

View correspondence and updates relating to the examination as follows:

1 February 2022

The appointed Planning Inspector, Mr William Fieldhouse BA (Hons) MA MRTPI has 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.  Please visit the Local Plan Examination page for more details.

4 January 2022

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.

21 December 2021

The Council's summaries and responses to the main issues raised by representors to the main modifications consultation can be seen on the Local Plan Examination page at references DBC40 to DBC44.

20 December 2021

The representations to the Proposed Modifications Consultation undertaken from 19 October 2021 to 30 November 2021 can be viewed within PD08 Proposed Modifications Representations.

Please note that some of the documents are large and may take some time to open/download.

06 December 2021

The consultation period on the proposed main modifications ended on Tuesday 30 November 2021.

The Council will now prepare a report listing all of the representations received; a summary of the main issues raised; and the Council’s brief response to those main issues.

This will be provided to the Inspector, along with all of the representations.

The Inspector will then consider all of the representations, and the Council’s responses to the main issues, before finalising his report.

No further hearing sessions will be held unless the Inspector considers that to be essential to deal with substantial issues raised in representations about the proposed main modifications, or to ensure fairness.

15 October 2021

The consultation on Main Modifications, changes to the Policies Map and Sustainability Appraisal will begin on Tuesday 19th October and run for 6 weeks until Tuesday 30th November.

As stated in the Inspector’s document Darl IN17, the consultation will deal only with the main modifications, changes to the policies map and sustainability appraisal.

Representations about the consultation documents should be sent to the Council, not the Programme Officer.

13 October 2021

The Inspector has now published his document DARL INV17 Public Consultation on Proposed Main Modifications and Changes to the Policies Map [pdf document]

20 September 2021

The council have now published DBC 28, response to IN16 The Inspector’s Action Points following the additional hearing session.

9 September 2021

The Inspector has now published his document DARL IN16 [pdf document], Action Points following the additional hearing session.

26 August 2021

The council have now published the amended track change version of DBC23 [pdf document] together with a supplementary document (DBC27 [pdf document]). Due to a software issue DBC23 does not show the track changes to policies ENV1 - 4 , these changes are shown in the supplementary document DBC27.

20 August 2021

The council have now published their document DBC26 Council’s response to Inspector’s further supplementary question IN15 [pdf document]

18 August 2021

The Inspector has published his document IN15 Further supplementary question to the council Skerningham Viability [pdf document].

17 August 2021

The Agenda and Participants list for the Hearing Session on Tuesday 7 September has now been published.

DBC24 Appendix 1 has been replaced with DBC24 Appendix A.

The revised combined schedule of proposed main modifications, DBC19.2 [pdf document], (17th August 2021) sets out all of the main modifications to the Plan proposed by the Council during the Local Plan examination up to 12 July 2021, including those in response to the Inspector’s post hearings action points.

It supersedes the schedules published on 30 March (DBC2) and 24 May (DBC7). It also supersedes the earlier versions of this combined schedule (DBC19 and DBC 19.1) published on 30 July and the 6 August respectively.

This latest version includes updates to the proposed modifications to Policies H10 and H11 to remove the reference to “strategic” site allocation consistent with the modification to Policy H2.

It also deletes reference to “strategic” and “buffers” in relation to green corridors in the modifications proposed to Policy ENV7 and Policy ENV3 to ensure consistency with the modification proposed to Policy ENV4, also the tense has been changed in the second sentences of paragraphs 1.01 and 1.02 to refer to the policies that have been superseded and the documents that make up the Local Plan to ensure consistency with the proposed modification to the first sentences of these paragraphs.

A revised version of the Plan incorporating all of the proposed modifications as set out in schedule DBC19.2 has also been published as DBC22.1. This corrects errors found in the previous version.

All written statements in response to the Inspector's supplementary questions IN13 and IN14 have now been published.

The council’s responses to the Inspector’s supplementary questions IN13 (DBC24) and IN14 (DBC25) have now been published.

09 August 2021

A version of the revised Local Plan DBC23 [pdf document, 46MB] highlighting the proposed modifications as tracked changes has now been published.

06 August 2021

A revised version of the Plan has been published DBC22 [pdf document, 34MB]. This includes all of the main modifications proposed by the Council during the examination up to 12 July 2021 (as also set out in the schedule of proposed main modifications DBC19.1).

DBC20 [pdf document] list of changes to the policies map and DBC21 [pdf document] revised policies map. These supersede the revised policies map and list of changes published with DBC17 on 12 July.

DBC19.1 Schedule of Proposed Main Modifications. This schedule set out all of the main modifications to the Plan proposed by the Council during the examination up to 12 July 2021, including those in response to the Inspector’s post hearings action points. It supersedes the schedules published on 30 March [DBC2] and 24 May [DBC7]. It also supersedes the DBC19 published on 30 July (some factual and grammatical corrections having been made).

30 July 2021

The council have now published DBC19 Schedule of Main Modifications. This schedule sets out all of the main modifications to the Plan proposed by the Council during the examination up to 12 July 2021, including those in response to the Inspector’s post hearings action points. It supersedes the schedules published on 30 March [DBC2] and 24 May [DBC7]. This document has been temporarily removed.

27 July 2021

An amended version of DBC17 Appendix B [pdf document] (the revised Greater Faverdale Masterplan Framework) has been published. This corrects an error on the version published on 12 July which mistakenly designated an area adjoining Rotary Way for residential development rather than for employment development.

21 July 2021

The Inspector has now issued his document Darl IN14 Further supplementary questions relating to revised National Planning Policy Framework [pdf document]

The Inspector has decided that a further hearing session is required to allow him to properly examine some of the Council’s action point responses and proposed main modifications.

The further hearing session will be held using Microsoft Teams starting at 9.30 on Tuesday 7 September 2021. The Further Supplementary Questions set out in IN13 will be considered at that session, in so far as the Inspector decides that is necessary once he has considered written responses to them. 

All participants who were invited to the relevant hearing sessions under matters 4, 7, 9 and 10 in May and June may participate at the further hearing session.

If any other representor that made objections to relevant parts of the Plan in response to the regulation 19 consultation wishes to participate they should notify the Programme Officer by midday on Friday 13 August 2021.

Written statements in response to the Further Supplementary Questions must be no longer than 3,000 words in total and be received by the Programme Officer by midday on Friday 13 August 2021.

20 July 2021

The Inspector has now published his document Darl IN13 Further supplementary questions relating to Council responses to action points [pdf document]

12 July 2021

The council have now published DBC17, the council’s response to the Inspector’s document Darlington IN12 [pdf document], along with Appendices A and B, the revised Policies Map and the list of changes (policies map modifications schedule).

The Greater Faverdale Design Code is published as DBC18. All documents can be seen on the Local Plan Examination main page.

6 July 2021

Appendices A to F to the Council’s response to week 2 action points (DBC16) have now been published.

5 July 2021

The council have now published DBC 16 the council’s response to the Inspector’s document Darl IN11 [pdf document]. Appendices can be seen under DBC16 on the Local Plan Examination main page.

29 June 2021

The Inspector has now published his document Darlington IN12, action points following week three hearing sessions [pdf document].

The Inspector has agreed that the Council’s responses to AP21 and AP29 will be submitted on 9 July along with other changes to the policies map requested in week 3 action points.

22 June 2021

The Darlington/Tees valley Cycle Map OTH8 and the Darlington Bus Map OTH9 have now been published.

The council have now published their document DBC14 – Response to AP30 of Inspector’s note IN11 [pdf document]

21 June 2021

The Inspector has now published his document Darlington IN11 action points following week two hearings [pdf document]

18 June 2021

Agenda's and Participants for the Week 3 Hearing Sessions on 22, 23 and 24 June have now been published:

17 June 2021

The council have published document DBC 13 - Policy H10 Amends - 16.06.2021 Skerningham Comments [pdf document]. Please note this is not agreed by all parties but was requested by the Inspector to help inform the discussion

15 June 2021

The Greater Faverdale strategic allocation (policy H11) will now be discussed at the hearing session on Tuesday 22nd June beginning at 9.30am.

14 June 2021

The Inspector has published a revised Agenda for Wednesday 16th June which includes the following items.

  • Council’s updated housing supply information to 1 April 2021 (response to SQ5)
  • Strategic and non-strategic housing allocations (Q4.4)
  • Elm Tree Farm housing allocation (Q4.9)

10 June 2021

The Council’s response to Action Point 8 relating to Development Limits will be discussed in the morning session on Thursday 17 June under “residential development in the countryside”.

A revised agenda for the Matter 4 hearing session starting at 9.30 on Tuesday 15 June 2021 has been published. This includes an additional item to discuss the Council’s response to Action Point 3: Viability.

If necessary, part of the afternoon session will be used to continue the discussion of the items on the morning’s agenda. If so, this will take place before discussions start on the Greater Faverdale strategic allocation.

The council have now published DBC11 - their response to the Inspector's Note No:10 Action Points following Week One Hearings [pdf document]

9 June 2021

Agenda’s and participants for the Week 2 Hearing sessions on 15, 16 and 17 June have now been published:

27 May 2021

The council have now published their response to the Inspector’s Supplementary question IN8 (DBC10) [pdf document]

The Inspector has now published his document IN10 Action points following Week One Hearings [pdf document]

25 May 2021

The council have now published their response to the Inspector’s Supplementary question IN7.

24 May 2021

A revised version of the Council’s response to IN5 has been published - DBC6.1 Council's response to IN5 supplementary questions (2) [pdf document].

This corrects two of the figures in the summary table of the five year supply on page 8 in response to SQ5, and also includes an explanation of how site 410 Snipe Lane, Hurworth has been categorised.

The total five year supply of 2,824 dwellings for 2021 to 2026 (2,699 on committed and allocated sites plus 125 small site windfalls) has not altered.

An addendum to the Council’s schedule of proposed main modifications (DBC2, 30 March 2021) has been published - DBC7 additional main modifications schedule [pdf document]. This includes the main modifications proposed in the Council’s written statements and responses to SQ5. 

The Inspector has accepted a further statement from Mr David Clark (OTH4 Response to SQ4 D Clark [pdf document]) because he considers that it includes useful information about the community woodland and relocation of Darlington Golf Course provided following publication of the responses to SQ4 from the Council and Skerningham Estates Limited.

21 May 2021

An update to the Policies Map [pdf document] incorporating the amendments proposed in DBC4 (31 March 2021) has been published

The Inspector has now published Darl IN8 [pdf document], Further supplementary question to the council Matter 4. Five year housing requirement.

20 May 2021

Agenda’s and participants for the Week 1 Hearing sessions on 25th and 26th May have now been published:

19 May 2021

The Inspector has accepted a response to SQ4 from Skerningham Estates Limited because he considers that it includes useful information about the community woodland and the relocation of Darlington Golf Club proposed in policy H10.

This has been published as OTH3 Skerningham Estates response to SQ4 [pdf document].

18 May 2021

The council has now published its response to the Inspector’s document IN5: supplementary questions [pdf document].

The Inspector has now issued his document IN7: supplementary questions [pdf document] to the council for Matters 5 to 11.

13 May 2021

IN6 Hearing Sessions: Guidance for Participants [pdf document] has been published today. The hearing sessions will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams. The first session will start promptly at 09.30 on Tuesday 25 May; participants should join the meeting on Teams at 09.00.

The Council and Programme Officer will be running a test hearing session on Microsoft Teams at 11.00 on Thursday 20 May 2021. This is solely to check out the technology, and there will be no discussion of the Plan or examination matters.

The Inspector will not be joining that event. If any participant wishes to join, please contact the Programme Officer no later than midday on Tuesday 18 May 2021.

11 May 2021

The Inspector has now published his document IN5 SQs, Supplementary Questions to the Council.

07 May 2021

A revised version of the Council’s Addendum to the Local Plan Viability Assessment [CD08] [pdf document] has been published. This includes measurements in hectares and square metres. Any references to measurements in this document made during hearings sessions should be to those metric measurements, rather than acres and square feet.

05 May 2021

Some of the written statements submitted by representors contain links to websites. However, as was made clear in IN4, written statements are not the opportunity to introduce new evidence.

If anybody that has included links to websites that contain material that is not already before the examination, and they wish the Inspector to take it into account, then they should contact the Programme Officer and explain what it is, why it is essential, and why it was not submitted with representations made under regulation 20.

If the Inspector agrees to accept it, then it must be submitted as a PDF for inclusion in the examination library.

04 May 2021

The addendum to CD08 Local Plan Viability Assessment [pdf document] has now been published.

04 May 2021

The Inspector has decided to extend the deadline for receipt of written statements in response to matter 4 (housing development) until midday on Friday 7 May 2021.

Statements for matters 5 to 11 must be submitted to the Programme Officer by the previously announced deadline of midday on Wednesday 5 May 2021.

30 April 2021

All of the written statements for matters 1, 2 and 3 have been published in the examination library. The Inspector will read all of the statements prior to the relevant hearing session, and participants are encouraged to do likewise.

Statements will not be read out or summarised at the hearing sessions. Rather the sessions will comprise a focussed discussion led by the Inspector about soundness issues that he needs to understand more about.

No further statements or information relating to matters 1, 2 or 3 should now be submitted unless requested by the Inspector. The deadline for statements for matters 4 to 11 is midday on Wednesday 5 May 2021.

27 April 2021

The Statement of Common Ground with Highways England [pdf document] has now been published.

16 April 2021

Inspector’s Note No. 4 included a final draft list of participants and stated that any queries about that should be made to the Programme Officer by midday on Wednesday 14 April 2021.

The Inspector has considered the queries received by that date and has now finalised the list of participants. This has now been published as IN4 Annex 3 Revised. 

14 April 2021

The Council’s response to PQ44.1 advised that site specific viability assessments for the Skerningham and Greater Faverdale strategic allocations were being finalised and that, as a minimum, summaries of the assessments would be published within a statement of common ground by the end of March 2021. The assessments are now expected to be published week commencing 19 April 2021.

09 April 2021

An updated version of the Statement of Common Ground between the Council and Historic England DBC5.1 [pdf document] has been published DBC5.1.

It had been identified that the wording of the Council’s proposed main modification to the Blackwell Grange East Housing Allocation Statement (ref 403) in the original version of the Statement published on 1 April [DBC5] was not the same as that in the Council’s published schedule of main modifications [DBC2].

This has been rectified in the update, which also includes additional comments from Historic England relating to the corrected proposed main modification to that allocation statement.

01 April 2021

The Inspector’s note no. 4 (IN4) [pdf document] has been published. This sets out the matters, issues and questions that will help the Inspector decide if the Plan is sound and legally compliant and, if not, how it could be modified to ensure that it is.

It also includes advice on submitting written statements in response to the Inspector’s questions, and a final draft hearings programme and lists of participants for each session.

Key dates are:

  • midday on Wednesday 14 April 2021 – deadline for contacting the Programme Officer with any queries about the lists of participants
  • midday on Wednesday 28 April 2021 – deadline for statements for matters 1 to 3
  • midday on Wednesday 5 May 2021 – deadline for statements for matters 4 to 11
    09:30 on Tuesday 25 May 2021 – hearings start

01 April 2021

Statement of Common Ground between Darlington Borough Council and Historic England [pdf document] has now been published.

31 March 2021

The Proposed Policies Map Amendments [pdf document] have now been published.

30 March 2021

The council have now issued the schedules of Main and Minor modifications:

30 March 2021

The Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) [pdf document] sets out the infrastructure needs to support the development aspirations of the Proposed Submission Local Plan.

It draws together the infrastructure requirements identified in existing pieces of work such as the conclusions of the Highway Modelling Work (SD 66-69), Green Infrastructure Strategy (SD38) etc. as well as reflecting on the consultation work undertaken during the plan preparation process with key utility, healthcare and emergency service providers.

Development of this document has been an iterative process and it will continue to be updated periodically during the plan period.

30 March 2021

The examination hearing sessions are now expected to start on Tuesday 25 May 2021 and to be held virtually using Microsoft Teams.

Further information is set out under the heading “Hearings Sessions” below. Inspector’s Note No. 4 will be published in early April. This will set out his matters, issues and questions; dates on which each matter will be discussed; and participants for each session.

30 March 2021

The Council’s response to the Inspector’s Preliminary Questions [pdf document] have now been published.

29 March 2021

Darlington Local Plan Data Sharing Agreement [pdf document]

29 March 2021

The Council’s response to the Inspector’s Preliminary Questions and schedules of proposed main modifications to the Plan and changes to the Policies Map are now expected to be published the week commencing 29 March 2021.

11 March 2021

As requested by the Inspector, the Council has prepared a summary of main issues raised in representations about the Plan, sustainability appraisal and viability assessment in response to regulation 19 consultation, along with officer responses.

This has now been published. The responses suggest a number of main modifications to the Plan and some changes to the policies map. These will be published during the week commencing 15 March.

Regulation 19 comments [pdf document].

11 March 2021

Only those who have made valid representations under regulation 20 (for example in response to the Plan published for consultation in August 2020) seeking to change the Plan have a right to participate at a hearing session.

The deadline for representors to inform the Programme Officer that they wish to participate was midday on Wednesday 10 March 2021. No further requests to participate should now be made.

03 March 2021

Spatial Distribution of Development Topic Paper [pdf document] added.

25 February 2021

Housing Topic Paper [pdf document] added.

24 February 2021

The Inspector has now published his Preliminary Questions to the Council (IN3) [pdf document].

23 February 2021

The Inspector’s note no.2 (IN2) [pdf document] has now been published. This sets out the provisional list of matters and issues that will be the focus of the examination, and dates on which the hearing sessions are expected to be held.

Any representor that wishes to exercise their right to be heard and participate at a hearing session must inform the Programme Officer by midday on Wednesday 10 March 2021.

The Programme officer can be contacted by email [email protected] or by telephone 01325 406656.

19 February 2021

Climate Change Topic Paper [pdf document] added.

18 February 2021

The Inspector has agreed that the following four reports commissioned by the Council can be added to the examination library: 

The Council advises that these are concluding reports following comprehensive traffic modelling that was undertaken throughout the plan preparation process.

Starting in 2018 with a database of initial sites this ran through various models starting with a regional model which then informed the inputs to a borough wide strategic model.

This borough wide model indicated the need to examine three key corridors in more detail in order to demonstrate that the cumulative impacts of the proposed development in the Darlington Local Plan on the road network would not be severe (as required by NPPF Para. 109).

Various scenarios and mitigation options were also tested throughout this iterative process. The Council is proposing no changes to the Plan in response to these concluding reports.

01 February 2021

PDFs of all of the representations made in response to the regulation 19 consultation are available on the Local Plan Publication Representations page.

14 January 2021

The Inspector’s Examination Guidance Note (IN1) [pdf document] was published.