Comment on ‘main modifications’ to Joint Local Plan

People across Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon will be getting another chance to comment on changes made to the area’s Joint Local Plan.

A number of ‘modifications’ have been suggested by planning inspectors following the examination hearings between January and March this year.

The Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan is in its final stages of preparation. The inspectors issued a formal post hearing advice note in August which set out a number of modifications they considered would be necessary to make the Joint Local Plan sound.

The JLP councils are consulting on the changes, known as ‘Main Modifications’ and will forward any responses to the inspectors for their consideration. 

They include for Plymouth and its urban fringe some changes to the way greenspaces are protected by policies in the plan.

In South Hams and West Devon the changes include the removal of ‘settlement boundaries’ (these will now be detailed in a new document which will be consulted on last year) and changes to polices that deal with development in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The consultation starts today Monday (22 October) with people and organisations invited to comment on a ‘schedule of main modifications’ to the Joint Local Plan.

There is also a schedule of additional modifications and a schedule of map modifications (which show changes to the policies map). These additional modifications are changes which are not required to make the plan sound, but to correct inaccuracies or improve the plan. Comments received on these schedules will be considered by the councils, but not the inspectors.

A number of background documents have been updated to take account of the main modifications.

Comments can only be made on the ‘main modifications’ proposed to be made to the JLP.  All documents and details, including times and dates of drop-in sessions for the public are on the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan: Modifications consultation page.