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About the Local Plan Examination
Before a local authority can formally adopt a Local Plan and bring it into use, the plan must go through an Independent Examination by an Inspector.
The Examination hearing sessions begin on Tuesday 10 November. You can view the Hearings Programme.
We have published an agenda for each hearing session. See the Hearing Statements and Agendas section on the Local Plan documents page.
The hearing sessions take place at the Civic Centre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JE. We will live-stream the hearing sessions on YouTube.
You can also observe the hearing sessions in person. The Customer Service Centre is currently closed for refurbishment, but access will be available for those attending.
Whilst you are welcome to observe, you will not be able to speak unless you have already been invited by the Programme Officer.
If you have any queries about the Examination you contact the Programme Officer using the details elsewhere on this page.
The Examination of the Local Plan will involve a number of public hearing sessions.
The hearing sessions will start at 10am on Tuesday 10 November 2026. They will be held in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JE.
We have published a notice confirming the commencement of the examination hearing sessions.
The Programme Officer has contacted representors. All comments made to the Pre-Submission and Additional Sites consultation documents will be considered.
Only people who made comments on the Pre-Submission or Additional Sites consultation documents have a legal right to take part in the Examination, and we have issued all the relevant invitations.
You can find out more about taking part in a Local Plan Examination. Chelmsford’s Local Plan is being examined under the legacy system.
The Inspectors are appointed by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. They'll look at whether our Local Plan meets legal requirements and is 'sound'.
The Secretary of State has appointed two Inspectors for the Local Plan Examination:
Inspector H Baugh Jones BA (Hons), DipLA MA CMLI
Inspector R Morgan BSc (Hons) MCD MRTPI
You can view the appointment letter.
You can find out more about testing for soundness in paragraph 36 of the National Planning Policy Framework.
Examination is a continuous process, running from the date we submitted our Local Plan through to when we receive the Inspector's report.
You can view more guidance on Local Plan Examinations.
You can also see more detailed practical advice on all aspects the examination process.
We have appointed an independent Programme Officer to organise and manage the administrative and procedural matters of the Examination.
Our Programme Officer is Mrs Annette Feeney.
For any queries about the Local Plan Examination, you can contact Mrs Feeney by:
emailing: annette.feeney@chelmsford.gov.uk
writing to: c/o Spatial Planning Services, Chelmsford City Council, Civic Centre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1JE
calling: 07775 771026
You can find out more about the background to the Local Plan, which includes a vision, priorities, principles and policies to meet development needs to 2041 and beyond.
It also contains our updated strategy and planning policies to help address climate change, and the conservation and enhancement of the natural, historic and built environment.
It will provide an important tool in supporting delivery of our strategic priorities, and for continuing to deliver a plan-led approach and an effective planning service in Chelmsford.