Examination overview
Telford and Wrekin Local Plan review 2020 - 2041
The Telford and Wrekin Local Plan review was formally submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on 12September 2025. On Monday 15 September, Inspector Worden (BA (Hons), Dip, TP, MRPTI) and C Carpenter (BA, MA, MRPTI) were appointed to hold an independent examination of the Telford and Wrekin Local Plan review.
Inspectors
The Secretary of State has appointed to Inspectors; M Worden (BA (Hons), Dip, TP, MRPTI) and C Carpenter (BA, MA, MRPTI), to hold an independent examination of the Telford and Wrekin Local Plan review.
Programme Officer
The role of the Programme Officer is to independently undertake the administration of the examination under the direction of the appointed Planning Inspector(s). The Programme Officer will liaise between the Planning Inspector(s), Telford & Wrekin Council and the interested parties for the duration of the Local Plan examination. All communications are handled by the Programme Officer.
The Programme Officer can be contacted as follows:
- Kerry Trueman
- Programme Officer Solutions Ltd
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 07582 310364
- Post: Pendragon House, 1 Bertram Drive, Meols, Wirral, CH47 0LG
Examination process overview
Following the submission of the Local Plan, together with the evidence base and documents required by legislation, including the Regulation 19 representations, the Planning Inspectorate aims to appoint an Inspector(s) within three weeks.
In the initial weeks after the Inspector's appointment they will make contact with the Programme Officer and start to undertake an initial assessment of the Plan and the organisation of the hearing sessions.
Hearing sessions
Once the Inspector(s) confirms the start date for the hearing sessions, the Council must advertise the opening of a hearing at least six weeks in advance. The Programme Officer will publish the initial timetable for the hearing sessions, the matters and issues for discussion and the Inspector's Guidance Note. The Programme Officer will also clarify and confirm participant’s attendance at the hearings.
Post hearing sessions
As part of the examination, the Council may ask the Inspector(s) to recommend main modifications to the Local Plan, where necessary, to make the Plan sound and legally compliant. Most plans are subject to this request. The wording of the proposed main modifications will be agreed between the Inspector(s) and the Council.
Once the wording for the main modifications is agreed, the Council may be required to undertake further work on the Sustainability Appraisal and Habitat Regulations Assessment as well as public consultation for a minimum of six weeks on the proposed main modifications.
Inspectors report and adoption
The Inspector's report is subject to an internal review process and the draft report is initially sent to the Council for a fact-check review which is strictly limited to the matters of factual accuracy. The Inspector(s) will deal with any factual matters raised by the Council and then their final report is sent to the Local Planning Authority for immediate publication. This marks the end of the Local Plan examination, and enables the Council to move into formal adoption of the Plan.
For further information on the examination process including how to take part in examination, please see the Frequently Asked Questions webpage.