Planning policy consultations

Consultations on planning policy

This webpage holds a list of current consultations on key strategic planning documents drafted and other policy matters currently being consulted upon, by the Planning Policy Team, such as Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD), Call for Sites and, when necessary, Local Plan reviews.

When documents are published for consultation, they will be listed here alongside the time period in which we are accepting responses.

Borough Plan Review – Main Modifications consultation

  • This Consultation has now closed (Monday, 2 June, at 9:00am to Monday, 14 July, at 11:59pm).

Borough Plan Review - Background

Nuneaton and Bedworth’s Borough Plan Review is a substantial document that sets out where development will be permitted around the Borough, addressing needs and opportunities relating to housing, the economy, community facilities such as shops and open space, and infrastructure such as roads, and what kind of development should take place in which locations.

The Plan was submitted to the government’s Planning Inspectorate for an independent examination in February 2024, with hearing sessions held between July and October 2024 to enable all stakeholders who had commented on the plan previously to discuss the key matters, issues and questions raised by the Planning Inspectors.

What are Main Modifications?

Main Modifications are changes to the Borough Plan Review (Local Plan) that are required to resolve any soundness or compliance issues that the Planning Inspectors have identified.

A ‘Schedule of Main Modifications’ has been prepared to address the points raised in the Inspectors’ post hearing note, and the earlier suggested modifications arising from the Examination in Public hearing sessions.

Updates to the Sustainability Appraisal and Habitat Regulations Assessment have been undertaken, to take the proposed Main Modifications into consideration.

Before the Planning Inspectors can make final recommendations on the proposed Main Modifications, they must be subject to public consultation, to be carried out by the Council on behalf of the Planning Inspectors.

Additional Modifications and Proposed Modifications to the Borough Plan Review Policies Map

Additional Modifications are minor changes that the Council would also like to make to the Borough Plan Review to improve the presentation or to address or correct any typographical or factual errors, which are not necessary to resolve soundness or legal compliance issues. These Additional Modifications are not examined or recommended by the Planning Inspectors, but are published by the Council for comment alongside the Main Modifications.

Under the current planning legislation, the Planning Inspectors have no powers to recommend Main Modifications relating to the Policies Map. However, the Planning Inspectorate guidance, notes that the role of the Policies Map is to illustrate geographically the application of policies in the plan. If the geographical illustration of a policy in the Borough Plan Review is flawed, the policy will be unsound. As such, the Planning Inspectorate advise that in the interests of fairness, proposed changes to the Policies Map should be subject to consultation alongside the Main Modifications.

Consultation documents

The following documents have been published:

Representations should focus on whether the proposed modifications/other consultation documents comply with the legal requirements and are considered to be sound. Your representation should be supported by evidence wherever possible. 

How can I read the associated documents?

  • Online versions of the Borough Plan Review – Main Modifications documents can be viewed above (Consultation documents section).
  • Hard copies of the consultation documents are available to view at Nuneaton Town Hall and Nuneaton, Bedworth and Bulkington libraries.
  • You can also drop into Nuneaton Town Hall between from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. Appointments can be pre-booked to discuss the consultation materials with a Planning Policy Officer by emailing planning.policy@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk or ringing 02476 376288 during normal office hours. You can also use this phone number to book a call back at a time that suits you.

How do I respond to the consultation?

  • Electronic response forms can be downloaded above (Consultation documents section). Once completed, these should be emailed to planning.policy@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk by the end of the consultation period.
  • Paper response forms can be picked up from Nuneaton Town Hall and Nuneaton, Bedworth and Bulkington Libraries. Once completed, these should be posted to: Planning Policy, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Town Hall, Coton Road, Nuneaton, CV11 5AA by the end of the consultation period.

Can I comment on other matters that are in the Plan?

No. Guidance from the Planning Inspectorate is clear that this is not an opportunity to repeat submissions previously made, make new arguments, or submit new evidence which does not relate to the Main Modifications.

What if no modifications are proposed in response to my previous representations?

The Main Modifications are those which the Planning Inspectors consider are needed to make the plan ‘sound’ or legally compliant in terms of the tests set out in national policy, taking into account the representations received and the discussions at the Borough Plan Review Examination in Public hearing sessions last year.

What are the implications of the December 2024 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)?

The December 2024 version of the NPPF does not have an effect on the progression of the Borough Plan Review examination or the document itself. The Borough Plan Review is being examined under the 2023 version of the NPPF.

What happens after the consultation has closed?

Following the closure of this consultation, all representations will be forwarded to the Planning Inspectors for their consideration. They will then finalise the examination report and the Schedule of Main Modifications. The Council will not know which of the changes will be taken forward into the final version of the Borough Plan Review until the Planning Inspectors’ final examination report is received.

Guidance from the Planning Inspectorate indicates that further hearing sessions will not usually be held, following the public consultation, unless the Planning Inspectors consider them essential to deal with substantial issues raised in the representations, or to ensure fairness.

The Borough Plan Review remains under examination until the Planning Inspectors issue their final report.

Climate Change and Sustainability Action Plan

  • This Consultation has now closed (Monday, 2 June, at 09:00am to Monday, 14 July, at 11:59pm)

What is the Climate Change and Sustainability Action Plan?

The Climate Change and Sustainability Action Plan aims to set the direction for the Council on actions we can take to ensure we are operating as sustainably as possible, as well as the actions we can take to achieve carbon neutrality within the Borough as a whole.

Consultation documents

How can I read the associated documents?

  • An online version of the Climate Change and Sustainability Action Plan can be viewed above (Consultation documents section).
  • Hard copies of the consultation documents are available to view at Nuneaton Town Hall and Nuneaton, Bedworth and Bulkington libraries.
  • You can also drop into Nuneaton Town Hall between from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. Appointments can be pre-booked to discuss the consultation materials with a Planning Policy Officer by emailing planning.policy@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk or ringing 02476 376288 during normal office hours. You can also use this phone number to book a call back at a time that suits you.

How do I respond to the consultation?

  • Electronic response forms can be downloaded above (Consultation documents section). Once completed, these should be emailed to planning.policy@nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk by the end of the consultation period.
  • Paper response forms can be picked up from Nuneaton Town Hall and Nuneaton, Bedworth and Bulkington Libraries. Once completed, these should be posted to: Planning Policy, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Town Hall, Coton Road, Nuneaton, CV11 5AA by the end of the consultation period.

Statement of Community Involvement

One of the main principles behind the planning system is community involvement. We encourage the public, local organisations, businesses and other interested parties to have a say in different aspects of planning.

The Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) sets out the way the Council will involve the local community, stakeholders and statutory bodies, in the preparation of new planning policy documents and in consultation on planning applications.

Planning Policy

Telephone: 024 7637 6288

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