Submission of the Wokingham Borough Local Plan Update 2023-2040

On Friday 28 February 2025 Wokingham Borough Council submitted the Local Plan Update 2023-2040: Proposed Submission Plan (LPU) to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for examination by an independent Planning Inspector.

The LPU sets out the vision and objectives, planning strategy, policies and site allocations proposed to manage development across the borough to 2040. 

The LPU has been submitted with the following documents:

• Policies Map

• Sustainability Appraisal

• Regulation 22 Consultation Statement and appendices

• Regulation 19 Representations

• Habitats Regulations Assessment

• Duty to Co-operate Statement of Compliance

• Schedule of proposed modifications

• Other supporting documents, including agreed Statements of Common Ground

The submission documents, along with further information, are available on the council's LPU examination page.

Hard copies of the key submission documents will be available shortly at:

• Wokingham Borough Council offices, Shute End, Wokingham, RG40 1BN - 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday

• Wokingham library, Carnival Hub, Wellington Road, Wokingham, RG40 2AF - view the library opening times 

What happens next?

Following submission of the LPU, an Inspector will be appointed by Government to undertake an independent examination of the Plan in relation to legal compliance and soundness matters as set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2023 and relevant Regulations. The Proposed Submission Plan has been submitted under the transitional arrangements set out in the NPPF published in December 2024, meaning it will be examined against the previous version of the NPPF published in December 2023.

The Inspector will take into account representations made at the Regulation 19 stage (consultation on the Proposed Submission version of the LPU) which took place between 30 September and 5pm on 13 November 2024. 

The council has appointed a Programme Officer for the Examination. The Programme Officer is independent, and works directly on behalf of the Inspector to organise administrative and procedural matters. His details are:

Ian Kemp

• Address: PO Box 241, Droitwich, Worcestershire, WR9 1DW

• Email: ian@localplanservices.co.uk

• Tel: 07723 009 166

If you advised us through the consultation on the Proposed Submission Plan (Regulation 19) that you wish to appear at the hearing sessions, you will be notified in due course by the Programme Officer of the issues that the appointed Inspector wishes to explore further, the relevant dates, and procedures. Please note that this is not an opportunity to make further representations.

If you have any questions or require any further information, please get in touch with the Planning Policy Team by email at LPU@wokingham.gov.uk.