Public hearings to scrutinise a key planning document setting out where thousands of new homes will be built across South Worcestershire by 2041 start today (4 March) and can be watched live online.
Government-appointed inspectors are testing whether the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) is legally compliant and meets national planning policy – known as being found sound - during the hearing sessions at Worcester Guildhall.
The examination takes place over three weeks, running until Thursday 27 March. Inspectors will explore a different theme each day, ranging from economic growth policies to the different housing sites identified in the Plan. Further sessions will be held at the Civic Centre in Pershore on 29 and 30 April to explore issues, including climate change and transport.
Full details, including a live stream of the hearings, can be found on the SWDPR YouTube channel.
The public is welcome to attend the hearings but will only be allowed to speak if they indicated they wanted to make a representation during the Regulation 19 consultation held in November 2022. They will also need to be invited by the inspector.
The schedule for the hearings, which is subject to change, is:
- 4 March – Worcester Guildhall
- 5 March – Worcester Guildhall
- 11 March – Worcester Guildhall
- 12 March – Worcester Guildhall
- 13 March – Worcester Guildhall
- 25 March – Worcester Guildhall
- 26 March – Worcester Guildhall
- 27 March – Worcester Guildhall
- 28 March - Civic Centre, Pershore
- 29 April - Civic Centre, Pershore
- 30 April - Civic Centre, Pershore
- 1 May - Civic Centre, Pershore
Hearings are scheduled to start at 9.30am on each of the above dates.
