Home Planning & Building Neighbourhood Planning Westcott Neighbourhood Plan Examination
Westcott Neighbourhood Plan Examination
On 4 February 2026, the Westcott Neighbourhood Plan was submitted by the Council for independent examination. Mr Andrew Mead BSc (Hons) MRTPI MIQ was appointed by the Council to carry out the independent examination into the Westcott Neighbourhood Plan.
The examination concluded on 18 May 2026 when the Examiner published his report.
On 2 June 2026, the Council published its decision statement. Having considered each of the recommendations within the Examiner’s Report, the Council, with consent from the Westcott Village Forum, has decided to accept all of the Examiner’s modifications to the Plan apart from one modification relating to the safeguarding of the Riverbank Surgery for its existing use.
On 9 June 2026, the Council undertook a focused consultation on the matter of the safeguarding of the Riverbank Surgery. The consultation closed on 21 July 2026. The Consultation Document and the Statement of Consultation can be accessed with the Examination Documents link below.
On 22 July 2026, the Council sent the Statement of Consultation to a new Examiner, Mr Derek Stebbing BA (Hons) DipEP MRTPI who has been appointed to examine the single issue matter of the safeguarding of the Riverbank Surgery. Mr Stebbing is now considering the representations.
The links below provide access to the following documents:
- Examination Documents – Contains all of the documents produced during the examination, including relevant correspondence between the Examiner, Westcott Village Form, and the Council.
- Submission Documents – Contains all of the documentation submitted by the Council, including the Westcott Neighbourhood Plan and representations received by the Council (see Regulation 16 Statement of Consultation).
Examination updates
Mr Derek Stebbing BA (Hons) DipEP MRTPI has been appointed to examine this single issue matter of whether to safeguard the Riverbank Surgery.
The focused consultation on the matter of whether to safeguard the Riverbank Surgery has closed. Please refer to the Statement of Consultation to review the consultation responses.
A focused consultation opened on the matter on whether to safeguard the Riverbank Surgery. Please refer to the Consultation Document.
The Council has considered the recommendations of the Examiner’s Report and published its Decision Statement.
The Examiner’s Report is published and the Examiner has found the Westcott Neighbourhood Plan to be sound, subject to some amendments. The examination has concluded. The next stage is for the Council to consider the recommendations of the Examiner’s Report and determine whether the Westcott Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to a referendum incorporating the Examiner’s proposed modifications. The Council will publish its Decision Notice before 18 June.
The Examiner has accepted a late representation and a schedule showing this late representation has been published.
The Council has published the representations schedule for the Examiners focused consultation on legal changes.
The Examiner has sent a letter to representor Mr Subuh (03/AM/WNP).
The Examiner has sent the Council and Westcott Village Forum a letter regarding recent legal changes (03/AM/WNP). Anyone with an interest in the examination may comment on the legal compliance and Basic Conditions changes outlined in this letter, should they wish to. There is no need to resubmit or repeat representations submitted previously in relation to other matters, nor is this an opportunity to raise new matters that do not relate to the legal changes outlined in the letter. Anyone intending to submit a response on these matters has until 5pm Monday 30 March 2026 (a period of two weeks) to submit a response to the Council, by email to: planning.policy@molevalley.gov.uk.
The Council have received confirmation to publish their response to the Examiner’s questions. The Forum’s response to the Examiner’s Questions can be viewed on the Forum’s examination webpage.
Correspondence between the Examiner and the Forum, relating to the publication of the Examiner’s questions, has been published.
The Examiner has sent the Council and Westcott Village Forum a list of questions (02/AM/WNP) to answer.
The Examiner has provided the Council and Westcott Village Forum with their initial determination letter (01/AM/WNP).
The Westcott Neighbourhood Plan was submitted by the Council for independent examination. Mr Andrew Mead BSc (Hons) MRTPI MIQ was appointed by the Council to carry out the independent examination into the Westcott Neighbourhood Plan.