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Submission of Local Plan for Examination
On 13 May 2021 the Council submitted the Local Plan to the Secretary of State (via the Planning Inspectorate) for it to be independently examined.
Withdrawal of the Local Plan
On 4 September 2024 the Inspectors appointed to examine the plan recommended that it be withdrawn. The matter was considered at Full Council on 8 October 2024 and it was resolved that the plan with be withdrawn.
The Council has now withdrawn the plan.
We will make further updates to this page in due course.
This page will be updated as the examination progresses with the latest update towards the top of the page.
Updates for The Examination
6 September 2024
Following the Council’s letters to the Inspectors in February and May as well as further submissions last month, the Inspectors have now responded to the Council. Their letter dated 4 September 2024 will be added to the EiP library as SMBC011.
13 August 2024
The Council has provided an update to the Inspectors on various matters in document “Council’s Updated Housing Land Supply Position and Other Updates” which the Inspectors have asked to be published on the EiP website. The submission will be added to the EiP library as SMBC026.
8 May 2024
Further to its letter on the 14 February, the Council has now sent a further letter to the Inspectors. This letter will be added to the EIP library as SMBC025.
14 February 2024
The Council has issued it’s response to the Inspectors. The letter will be added to the EiP library as SMBC024.
11 January 2024
Following publication of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) the Inspectors have written to the Council asking them how they now wish to proceed. The letter has been added to the EiP library as INS010
Update 9 June 2023
Local Plan still paused due to delay in NPPF review
The examination of Solihull's Local Plan review remains paused pending the publication of the updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
The Council understands from Government that the update of the NPPF has been delayed due to the extent of consultation comments received, but it remains hopeful that it will be published over the summer.
As soon as there are any further updates we will share those with all interested parties.
16 March 2023
On the basis of the Council’s response issued yesterday, we can confirm that the examination is paused pending updates to the NPPF. The situation will remain under review and updates will be published here in due course.
15 March 2023
The councils response to the Inspectors’ letter from 6 March has been added to the examination library under document ref SMBC023, under the heading Documents Issued by the Council.
6 March 2023
The Inspectors’ most recent letter from 6 March 2023 has been added to the examination library under document ref INS009, under the heading Documents Issued by Inspectors.
9 Feb 2023
The councils response to the Inspectors’ letter from 13 Dec 2022 has been added to the examination library under document ref SMBC022, under the heading Documents Issued by the Council.
13 Dec 2022
The Inspectors most recent letter to the council has been received and added to the examination library under document ref INS008.
14 Oct 2022
The councils response to the Inspectors’ post hearing letters has been added to the examination library under document ref SMBC021 under the heading Documents Issued by the Council.
7 Sept 2022
The Inspectors’ post hearings letter to the council has been received and added to the examination library under document ref INS007.
1 July 2022
An agenda has been issued for the additional matter 12 session being held on Friday 8 July 2022.
23 June 2022
In response to the Inspectors invitation (set out in document INS006) written comments have been submitted and added to the examination library, they can be found under the Matter 12 heading and are documents referenced M012-039 onwards.
1 June 2022
The Inspectors have issued a note regarding an additional hearing session to take place on Friday 8 July 2022. The note can be found in the examination library under the heading “Documents issued by Inspectors” ref INS006.
26 April 2022
The council has produced a number of documents in response to the Inspectors letter from 11 February, these can be found in the examination library under the heading “Documents issued by the council”, references SMBC013-SMBC020. The Inspectors will be giving consideration to these documents before determining the next steps for the examination.
24 March 2022
Documents recently added to the examination library: Letter from the council 18th February – Doc ref SMBC010 and Extending the plan period – Doc ref SMBC011.
17 February 2022
The Inspectors letter to the council following the hearings has been added to the examination library under document ref INS005.
1 February 2022
An agenda has been issued for the session being held on Thursday 3 February 2022.
28 January 2022
An up to date hearings timetable has been issued today to include a session to be held on Thursday 3 February 2022 at 10.00am.
11 January 2022
Inspectors have issued agendas for the following sessions which will be held virtually:
6 January 2022
An up to date hearings timetable has been issued today which includes new dates for the previously postponed sessions relating to Matters 8 and 13. All of Januarys sessions will now take place virtually.
An updated Housing Trajectory and Five Year Land supply document from the council has been added to the examination library under heading Documents arising from the hearings, doc ref HD046.
8 December 2021
A number of new documents have been added to the examination library, including all comments made in relation to documents HD006 and HD012. There are also 3 new Statements of Common Ground which can be found under the relevant heading.
An up to date hearings timetable has also been issued today.
1 December 2021
Due to unforeseen circumstances the hearing session on Tuesday 7 December 2021 covering Matters 8 and 13 has had to be postponed. Further updates will follow once a new date has been agreed.
29 November 2021
An up to date hearings timetable has been issued today which includes the lists of accepted participants for the upcoming sessions for Matters 7-13.
25 November 2021
Inspectors have issued an agenda for Matter 9, Matter 10 and Matter 11
24 November 2021
- Inspectors have issued an agenda for Matter 7
- A number of Statements of Common Ground (SoCG) have recently been added to the Examination Library. They can be found under Document Type “Statements of Common Ground” and a draft SoCG added under “Matter 6G – Housing Site allocations – Knowle”.
- A letter from Homes England to SMBC has been added to the examination library under document ref HD012. Participants for the Matter 6G sessions are being given the opportunity to submit brief comments about this document. This must be done in writing via the Programme Officer by 5pm on 3 December 2021.
17 November 2021
The session for Matter 6H, due to take place on Thursday 18 November 2021, will now take place this afternoon. The session will begin at 1:00pm and can be observed on the councils YouTube Channel.
15 November 2021
The inspectors have issued agendas for Matter 6G and Matter 6H and an agenda for the additional session on Matter 6G.
11 November 2021
- The inspectors have issued an agenda for Matters 6F.
- The NEC new Draft Masterplan has been added to the Examination Library.
- The most up to date hearings timetable including participants has also been published today.
10 November 2021
The inspectors have issued an agenda for Matter 6E which is due to take place at the councils chamber on Tuesday 16 November 2021.
9 November 2021
A revised hearings timetable has been issued today with some amendments to scheduled sessions in December, the timetable includes accepted participants for all remaining sessions.
There has been an additional session added due to take place in January 2022, this will allow for the previous Matter 3 participants to discuss issues relating to the councils recently issued note on the housing implications of growth at UK Central (document reference HD006).
Matter 3 participants have also been given the opportunity to comment on the note (document ref HD006). This should be done in writing and sent to the Programme Officer by 5pm 30 November 2021.
3 November 2021
The Inspectors have issued agendas for Matters 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D
25 October 2021
An up to date hearings timetable has been issued today which includes the lists of accepted participants for the upcoming sessions for Matters 6A-6H.
30 September 2021
- The Inspectors have issued the agenda for Matter 5. Agenda for Matter 5 session starting at 2.00pm on Thursday 7 October 2021.
- The most up to date hearings timetable has been issued today.
- The Inspectors have agreed to extend the deadline for the submission of statements relating to Matters 7 to 13 to 5.00pm on Friday 29 October 2021. The deadline for the submission of statements for Matters 6A to 6H remains 5.00pm on Friday 15 October 2021.
27 September 2021
The Inspectors have issued agendas for Matters 3 and 4.
- Agenda for Matter 3 session starting on Tuesday 5 October 2021
- Agenda for Matter 4 session taking place on Thursday 7 October 2021.
24 September 2021
The upcoming hearing sessions will be broadcast live via our Solihull Council Youtube Channel.
22 September 2021
The Inspectors have issued agendas for the first 2 hearing sessions.
- Agenda for Matter 1 session taking place on Monday 27 September 2021
- Agenda for Matter 2 session taking place on Tuesday 28 September 2021.
20 September 2021
The Inspectors’ have issued an updated hearings timetable which now includes the list of accepted participants for the upcoming sessions for Matters 1-5.
2 August 2021
The Inspectors’ Matters, Issues and Questions along with the hearings timetable and guidance notes have been issued today.
28 July 2021
The Council has issued a revised schedule of omitted/alternative sites to the Inspectors.
16 July 2021
The Council submitted its responses to the information/clarification requests made by the Inspectors in their initial letter to the Council dated 24 June 2021.
24 June 2021
Inspectors' initial letter to the council has been issued.
26 May 2021
Inspectors were appointed to undertake the independent examination.