explaining the local plan

The first draft of BCP’s local Plan, completed last year, was rejected by the Public Inspectorate in March, requiring the process to begin again. Unfortunately, there is likely to be a considerably higher housing target than the 1600 a year that was rejected by the Planning Inspector. A further disadvantage of the delay is that a new Green Belt assessment is required and this will include the National Planning Policy Framework’s new designation of ‘grey belt’, which developers will try to use to their advantage.

For those of you unfamiliar with the local planning process, a few words of explanation:

1. It starts with a Call for Sites. This is inviting landowners and developers to submit suggestions for land that might be developed. 

2. The council assesses the promoted sites (for Green Belt status, flood risk, road network etc) before issuing a listing of those it is minded to accept.

3. There is an open consultation where members of the public  are invited to comment, either in approval or opposition to the suggested sites.

4. The council then ‘allocates’ those sites it approves of, meaning they become part of the Local Plan and of the council’s intentions of meeting its housing targets.

5. Once the Local Plan is adopted, the developers of allocated sites begin the process of planning application.

Key upcoming dates

27th October List and map of Promoted Sites published.

January 2026 Public Consultation begins (lasts eight weeks).

The Public Consultation

Residents of the Bearwood and Merley were numerically the most responsive by quite some margin when then first attempt at the local plan went to consultation, and we must aim for this again.

Comments on individual promoted sites need to be rooted in what are known as ‘material considerations’, matters which are relevant to the various aspects of planning policy,

Closer to the time of the consultation, Magwatch will offer advice on relevant material considerations.

[For a link to the interactive map, press MAP.]