Local plan examination
The council is updating the Local Plan. It sets out planning policies to guide development until 2041.
Submission and public examination
The Local Plan Partial Update and Proposals Map were submitted to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 9 May 2025. This began the public examination process. An independent Inspector will now assess whether the Local Plan Partial Update and Proposals Map are sound, legally compliant, and meet the duty to co-operate.
Planning Inspector Ms Joanna Gilbert MA (Hons) MTP MRTPI has been appointed to undertake an independent examination.
Public hearings
The examination will include a series of public hearings. Stage 1 hearings will be held remotely on Tuesday 11 November and Wednesday 12 November 2025 at 9:30 a.m. A draft Hearings Programme can be found below [EX012].
The hearings will be live-streamed through Microsoft Teams using these links:
Depending on your device or web browser, you may need to download the free Microsoft Teams app. Please allow plenty of time to set up your device before the start of the hearing. We recommend using Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome web browsers to access the hearings.
Officers from the council will be available to help troubleshoot any issues you may have in the half hour prior to the hearing. Please contact planningpolicy@reading.gov.uk if you are unable to join.
The recordings of the sessions will be made publicly available online following the hearings. Individuals viewing the hearings will not be permitted to speak unless they are an official participant. These participants have already been notified by the Programme Officer.
Evidence documents
Alongside the Submission Draft Local Plan Partial Update and the Submission Draft Proposals Map, a number of supporting documents have also been submitted. These form the evidence base for the Local Plan Partial Update.
The documents are listed below. Some are available to download, while others link to external pages. This list may change during the examination period.
Who to contact
The Council has appointed a Programme Officer, Jane Greenway, who is the main contact for the examination. You can contact her at Programme.Officer@reading.gov.uk or call 0118 937 4029.
For general enquiries about the Local Plan, contact the Planning Policy Team at planningpolicy@reading.gov.uk or call 0118 937 3337.
Local Plan Documents
Other planning policy documents
Other plans and strategies
Evidence documents
Examination documents
| Reference number | Evidence documents |
|---|---|
| EX001: Inspector’s initial letter (19 June 2025) | EX001: Inspector’s Initial Letter |
| EX002 – Council response to initial questions (part 1) July 2025 | EX002 RBC Response to Initial Questions part 1 July 2025 |
| EX003 – Local Plan Housing Trajectory | EX003 Local Plan Housing Trajectory |
| EX004 – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan | EX004 – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan |
| EX004a – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix A | EX004a – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix A |
| EX004b – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix B | EX004b – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix B |
| EX004c – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix C | EX004c – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix C |
| EX004d – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix D | EX004d – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix D |
| EX004e – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix E | EX004e – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix E |
| EX004f – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix F | EX004f – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix F |
| EX004g – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix G | EX004g – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix G |
| EX004h – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix H | EX004h – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix H |
| EX004i – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix I | EX004i – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix I |
| EX004j – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix J | EX004j – Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Appendix J |
| EX005 – Call for sites information for allocated sites | EX005 Call for sites information for allocated sites |
| EX006 – Site visit forms for allocated sites where nominated | EX006 Site visit forms for allocations where nominated |
| EX007 – Pre-Submission LPPU covering document | EX007 Pre-Submission LPPU Covering Document |
| EX008 – Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report 2014 | EX008 Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report 2014 |
| EX009 – RBC Response to Initial Questions part 2 July 2025 | EX009 RBC Response to Initial Questions Part 2 July 2025 |
| EX010 – Inspectors Matters Issues and Questions for Stage 1 Hearings | EX010 Inspectors Matters Issues and Questions for Stage 1 Hearings |
| EX011 – Reading Guidance Notes | EX011 Reading Guidance Notes |
| EX012 – Draft Hearings Programme V1 for Stage 1 Hearings | EX012 Draft Hearings Programme V1 for Stage 1 Hearings |
| EX013 – Stage 1 hearings letter 5 August 2025 | EX013 Stage 1 hearings letter 5 August 2025 |
| EX014 – Statement of Common Ground between Historic England and RBC | EX014 Statement of Common Ground between Historic England and RBC |
| EX015 – Statement of Community Involvement Adopted 2025 | EX015 Statement of Community Involvement Adopted 2025 |
| EX016 – RBC Hearing Statement Matter 1 | EX016 RBC Hearing Statement Matter 1 |
| EX017 – RBC Hearing Statement Matter 2 | EX017 RBC Hearing Statement Matter 2 |
| EX018 – RBC Planning Policy Data Privacy Notice | EX018 RBC Planning Policy Data Privacy Notice |
| EX019 – Planning Inspectorate Customer Privacy Notice | EX019 Planning Inspectorate Customer Privacy Notice |
| EX020 – CBRE Investment Management Hearing Statement for Matter 1 | EX020 CBRE Investment Management Hearing Statement for Matter 1 |
| EX021 – USS Investment Management Ltd Hearing Statement for Matter 1 | EX021 USS Investment Management Ltd Hearing Statement for Matter 1 |
| EX022 – USS Investment Management Ltd Hearing Statement for Matter 2 | EX022 USS Investment Management Ltd Hearing Statement for Matter 2 |
| EX023 – Gladman Hearing Statement for Matter 1 | EX023 Gladman Hearing Statement for Matter 1 |
| EX024 – Gladman Hearing Statement for Matter 2 | EX024 Gladman Hearing Statement for Matter 2 |
| EX025 – Home Builders Federation Statement for Matter 2 | EX025 Home Builders Federation Statement for Matter 2 |
Last updated on 24/10/2025
Local plan examination