Examination Overview

The Fareham Borough Council Local Plan was submitted for independent examination on 30th September 2021.

The Local Plan Examination Hearings started on Tuesday 8th March 2022 and ended on Tuesday 5th April 2022.

The Hearings were live streamed on YouTube are available to watch via the link below:

Local Plan Examination Hearings - YouTube 

The examination process continues until the Inspector has issued her report. Please continue to visit the Examination webpages for any further updates.

This page contains links to key information about the preparation for and operation of the Examination
of the Local Plan. Some frequently asked questions are available here.

For more information on the examination process and taking part in examinations, please see the Planning Inspectorate's Procedure Guide for Local Plan Examinations 
and Local Plan Guide to taking part in Examinations . 

Please find here the Regulation 19 Data Protection Privacy Statement. (142 KB) and the Local Plan Examination Privacy Statement (94 KB).

The Role of the Inspector

The role of the appointed Inspector is to carry out an independent assessment of the overall soundness of the Local Plan and ensure that it satisfies the statutory requirements for its preparation.  In order to do so, the Inspector will assess the Local Plan, the evidence on which it was created, and all of the representations submitted during the Regulation 19 public consultations.

On 15th October 2021 the Secretary of State appointed Helen Hockenhull BA(Hons) B.Pl MRTPI to undertake the examination.

Programme Officer

Kerry Trueman of Programme Officer Solutions Ltd has been appointed as Programme Officer.
The role of the Programme Officer is to independently coordinate the administration of the examination
and to liaise between the Planning Inspector, the Local Authority and the interested parties for the
duration of the examination.

Kerry is contracted by Fareham Borough Council for the purposes of this examination only.
She is impartial and works under the Inspector's direction but uses a Council email address to
securely exchange information.

The Programme Officer can be contacted as follows:

Kerry Trueman

Programme Officer Solutions Ltd
Email: programmeofficer@fareham.gov.uk
Phone: 07582 310364
Post: Pendragon House, 1 Bertram Drive, Meols, Wirral, CH47 0LG

Examination Process Overview

After the Council submits the plan to the Planning Inspectorate together with a complete, proportionate evidence base and the documents required by legislation, the Planning Inspectorate aims to appoint an Inspector within 3 weeks for plans containing strategic policies.

In the initial weeks after the Inspector's appointment:

• The Inspector makes an initial assessment of the plan and makes contact with the Programme Officer
• The Inspector looks for any fundamental flaws in respect of soundness or legal compliance and may write to the Council in the first instance if there are major concerns.
• The Inspector may write to the Council with questions on other matters.
• The Inspector determines the matters and issues for discussion at the hearings, and prepares the initial hearings timetable and a guidance note for participants.
• If the Inspector considers it necessary, the Council (and other participants) are asked to submit information or statements on specific issues. These should not be submitted unless requested by the Inspector.
• The Inspector confirms the start date for the hearing sessions. The Council must advertise the opening of a hearing at least 6 weeks in advance.
• The Programme Officer publishes the initial timetable for the hearing sessions, the matters and issues for discussion and the Inspector's Guidance Note.
• The Council and other participants are allowed 2-3 weeks to prepare any statements or other information requested by the Inspector, and submit them to the Programme Officer.
• The Programme Officer checks that they have been received and placed on the examination website, so that all participants have access to them.
• The Programme Officer clarifies and confirms participants' attendance at the hearings.