Minutes:
Kirsty Paul, the Planning Policy Manager, provided an update to the forum concerning the Local Plan.
· In December 2025, Full Council decided to withdraw the emerging Local Plan and to start a new plan making process under the new system.
· The reasons for the change were a number of factors including change in circumstances and new development opportunities which are coming forward such as Fens Reservoir. Fenland is also allocated as an opportunity area within the Cambs & Peterborough Local Growth Plan which looks at Fens growth triangle. The Government deadlines for the current plan system would mean that there would need to be a plan submitted by 31/12/26 and there were no transitionary arrangements that were made available.
· It has been decided that the best course of action now means that a new style plan will commence under the new plan making system.
· The regulations are still to be published but there is detailed guidance on the Government website which explains the process along with some templates that can be utilised in terms of what the expectation will be around some of the earlier gateways.
· The council’s website will be updated as more information becomes available which will explain what the process is likely to entail and the key points for engagement going forwards.
· With regards to technical evidence studies – there were multiple pieces of technical evidence which were produced to support the previous plan, and these will be carried through into the new plan but most of them would need to be updated in some way. They will storm form an important part of the initial work when looking at the what the scope of a new plan should be and trying to the initial optioneering work.
· With regards to sites that are being promoted there will be a new call for sites process undertaken and all previously submitted sites will need to go through the process again. The database being used will be launched within two weeks and it is a very simple stripped back call for sites process which makes it really accessible to landowners without the use of having to use agents.
· There is a live Government consultation taking place at the current time on the NPPF and other proposed changes to the planning system and the consultation ends on the 10 March. The changed set out some radical reforms in terms of the NPPF process and how it interrelates with emerging local plans.
· The indicative timeline was highlighted, and it was pointed out that there are key parts within it which mean it will have more interactions with the Planning Inspectorate. There are now three gateways that are worked through in addition to an examination process.
· The statement of the notification to commence is published on the council’s website and the four months’ notice period has now been triggered to enter gateway 1, with the assumed date in May 2026.
· Gateway 1 means that the Council are confirming the scope of the plan, including getting the reparation timetable agreed by PINS and looking at the behind-the-scenes project management side of things to ensure that there is a clear plan of action and reviewing how the engagement process with stakeholders will look.
· To get to gateway 1 a scoping consultation has bene launched which is targeted at residents and local business owners, but agents and developers are welcome to submit representations.
· Following gateway 1, then the next stage will be to develop the plans direction which will include deciding on the required policies and the level of required detail.
· A further consultation will be undertaken prior to gateway 2 which will be an initial proposals consultation which will look at the vision, the objectives, spatial strategy and some early policy approaches.
· Gateway 2 likely to commence early 2027 and whilst that is ongoing more detailed policies will be developed in preparation for the final public consultation which will take place between gateway 2 and 3 which is like the old Regulation 19 stage. The statutory time frame for this will be 8 weeks rather than 6 weeks and a full draft local plan will be published at that stage.
· Final gateway stage will then be reached where confirmation regarding legal compliance, confirming whether the correct evidence is in place to ensure it is ready and fit for examination.
· Examination process likely to be 6 months albeit a main modification consultation suggested so it could take longer.
· Program is on the council’s website and anticipation of adoption by March 2028.
· Call for sites is likely to be launched mid Feb; this will be communicated to all FDF members and all stakeholders.
· www.fenland.gov.uk/fenland50 provides detail and content on the new style plan which is being prepared.