Consideration of the Plan at Farnham Town Council
Following the Council’s approval of the Draft Regulation 15 Neighbourhood Plan and supporting documents at its meeting on on 21 July 2016 (see agenda here), the Regulation 15 Plan was submitted, alongside the Basic Conditions Statement and the Consultation Statement to Waverley Borough Council.
With the receipt of the Plan, Waverley Council held a six week consultation (Regulation 16 Consultation) on the 19 August 2016.
The final consultation on Farnham’s Neighbourhood Plan has ended. An independent examiner was appointed and has published his report confirming that, subject to recommended modifications set out in the report, the Plan meets the Basic Conditions and all relevant legal requirements. It is now open to Waverley Borough Council to accept these modifications and put the Plan to a Referendum.
The examination
In September 2016 Waverley Borough Council in consultation with Farnahm Town Council appointed an independent examiner, Derek Stebbing, to undertake an Examination of the Neighbourhood Plan to review whether it meets the Basic Conditions required by legislation and should proceed to referendum.
All comments received during the consultation were collated and sent to the Examiner.
The Examiner determined that a Hearing would take place on 25 November 2016 at the Town Council Offices, South Street, Farnham.
The Examiner invited various participants to clarify points at the Hearing details of which can be found here. The Examiner issued this advice for participants regarding the conduct of the Hearing.
Farnham Neighbourhood Plan Representations
A total of 202 representations were received on the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan which can be viewed here.
The following documents contain requests for clarification/ information from the Examiner to either Farnham Town Council or Waverley Borough Council:
- Matters and issues for discussion (PDF)
- Guidance and directions including comments and queries on the neighbourhood development plan (PDF)
- Miscellaneous technical points and queries (PDF)
The responses submitted to the Examiner by Waverley and Farnham Town Council on 15 November 2016 are below:
- Statement of Common Ground on Housing Land Supply and other matters
- Comments and Queries on the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan – answers from both authorities to the queries in the ‘Guidance and Directions’ note. The supporting documents for this are:
- Map showing a comparison of Farnham Neighbourhood Plan Built Up Area and Local Plan 2002 settlement boundaries
- Two maps showing the proposed restoration of Runfold South Quarry (Funnell Plan and Whole Site restoration)
- Miscellaneous Technical Points and Queries – answers from Farnham TC. The supporting documents for this are:
Documents submitted to Examiner after 15 November 2016
- Email from Mrs E. G. Cattell regarding Representation 169 Land at Runfold.
- List of Invited Speakers
- Legal opinion from Rupert Warren QC on behalf of Bewley Homes, Catesby Group and Wates Developments
- Annex K Stonegate Homes – submitted with Rupert Warren QC advice on behalf of Bewley Homes, Catesby Group and Wates Developments.
- Legal opinion from Paul Brown QC in respect of that submitted by Rupert Warren QC.
The Examiner made his decision by considering the written representations and clarification on specific points as requested at the Hearing.
The examiner considered three options: The plan meets the required conditions, the plan can meet the required conditions with some modification or the plan fails to meet the required conditions.
As the plan has been judged to meet the required conditions after modification, Waverley Borough Council now needs to agree to accept these and take the Plan to referendum. The community will be asked whether it wishes the Neighbourhood Plan to shape development in Farnham over the next 15 years. A majority is needed for the Plan to be made and adopted as per the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012.
Documents tabled at the Hearing
List of planning applications at 11 November 2016
List of planning appeals at 11 November 2016
Documents submitted at the Examiner’s request after the Hearing
Correspondence with Natural England
Proposed housing section amendments
Revised Coxbridge Farm allocation map
Timetable
The current anticipated timetable is:
- July 2016 – Farnham Town Council Submitted Neighbourhood Plan to Waverley Borough Council
- August 2016 – Waverley Borough Council commence the Regulation 16 Consultation
- Autumn 2016 – Waverley Borough Council and Farnham Town Council appoint an Independent Examiner
- Autumn 2016 – Examination of Plan
- May 2017 – Referendum (Public Vote on the Neighbourhood Plan) and subject to majority vote adoption of Farnham Neighbourhood Development Plan by Waverley Borough Council
More information
For more information about the Neighbourhood Planning process, visit some of the following:
