After publication of the long-awaited revision to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in December 2023, the Inspectors undertaking the independent examination of the Solihull Local Plan wrote to the Council last month pointing out that the new NPPF has transitional arrangements contained within it. This would mean that the new NPPF does not apply to the examination of current plans that have already been submitted, such as the Solihull Local Plan.
The Inspectors have asked the Council to confirm how it wishes to proceed with the examination, which had been paused waiting for the publication of this new NPPF.
The Council has now written back to the Inspectors setting out why the NPPF should be considered in examining Solihull’s Local Plan.
Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council, said:
“The position is much more nuanced than the Inspectors may believe, and as I’ve said so often, the devil is in the detail. We are keen to ensure that the additional flexibility of the new NPPF is used to support the best long-term interests of the Borough. That means taking into account the new policies outlined in the NPPF now, as part of the continuing examination of our Local Plan.
"Our invitation to the Inspectors is to allow all interested parties to make representations on the matter in order to get the examination process underway again.”
For more information please go to - Solihull Local Plan - Examination in Public (https://www.solihull.gov.uk/EIP)