THE review of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), which will shape future planning in Evesham, has been submitted to The Planning Inspectorate.
The review will now be scrutinised by an independently appointed planning inspector at a date which is yet to be confirmed.
This follows last November’s Regulation-19 consultation, which received more than 1,500 comments that have all been passed to the inspector for consideration.
Those who commented may be called to speak at a series of public hearings.
The inspector will assess whether the Plan meets the four tests of soundness set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.
To meet the tests set out in the framework, the Plan must have a clear strategy to meet development and infrastructure requirements including unmet needs from neighbouring councils.
It must also align with national planning policy, be deliverable over the Plan period, which will run until 2041, and be justified by evidence demonstrating it is the most appropriate strategy when compared to reasonable alternatives.
After this, the inspector will send a report to Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon District Councils with any changes needed to make the Plan sound.
The Plan allocates land for 13,240 additional new homes and 290.7 hectares of employment land.
This aims to meet a Government requirement to allocate land to build 26,360 new homes and 350.5 hectares of employment land across south Worcestershire from 2021 to 2041.
Most of the new housing will be met through strategic growth sites at Worcestershire Parkway, Throckmorton, Rushwick, and Mitton.
Not all sites in the Plan are new, with some being carried over from the last version of the SWDP, and sites that already have planning permission are being taken into account.
