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
Stage 1 hearings were held virtually on 11th and 12th November 2025. You can watch recordings of each stage 1 hearing.
Stage 2 hearings will be held on 3-6 and 10-12 February 2026 in Reading Town Hall, Blagrave Street, RG1 1QH, beginning at 9.30 on each day. A programme for the hearings with further details is included within the Examination Documents below.
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 |
| EX026 – Agenda Day 1 Matter 1 | EX026 Agenda Day 1 Matter 1 |
| EX027 – Agenda Day 2 Matter 2 | EX027 Agenda Day 2 Matter 2 |
| EX028 – Council’s Opening Statement 11 November 2025 | EX028 Council’s Opening Statement 11 November 2025 |
| EX029 – Meeting dates regarding Action Point 1 | EX029 Meeting dates regarding Action Point 1 |
| EX030 – Inspector’s Letter following Stage 1 hearings | EX030 Inspector’s Letter following Stage 1 hearings |
| EX031 – Letter to West Berkshire DC May 2024 re Reading’s housing needs | EX031 Letter to West Berkshire DC May 2024 re Reading’s housing needs |
| EX032 – Letter to Wokingham November 2024 regarding Reading’s housing needs | EX032 Letter to Wokingham November 2024 regarding Reading’s housing needs |
| EX033 – Letter to Wokingham BC November 2023 re gypsy and traveller needs | EX033 Letter to Wokingham BC November 2023 re gypsy and traveller needs |
| EX034 – Residential Commitments Summary 24-25 | EX034 Residential Commitments Summary 24-25 |
| EX035 – Technical Note M4 J11 Merge Diverge Assessment | EX035 Technical Note M4 J11 Merge Diverge Assessment |
| EX036 – Completed Action List Post Stage 1 | EX036 Completed Action List Post Stage 1 |
| EX037 – Inspector’s Matters, Issues and Questions for Stage 2 | EX037 Inspector’s Matters, Issues and Questions for Stage 2 |
| EX038 – Guidance Note Stage 2 hearings | EX038 Guidance Note Stage 2 hearings |
| EX039 – Provisional Hearings Programme Stage 2 | EX039 Provisional Hearings Programme Stage 2 |
| EX040 – Stage 2 hearings letter 28 November 2025 | EX040 Stage 2 hearings letter 28 November 2025 |
| EX041 – Local Plan Housing Trajectory Dec 2025 | EX041 Local Plan Housing Trajectory Dec 2025 |
| EX042 – City Centre Framework Update 2008 | EX042 City Centre Framework Update 2008 |
| EX043 – Statement of Common Ground National Highways | EX043 Statement of Common Ground National Highways |
| EX044 – Technical Note M4 J11 Merge Diverge Assessment REVISED | EX044 Technical Note M4 J11 Merge Diverge Assessment REVISED |
| EX045 – Statement of Common Ground RBC WBDC ONR Jan 26 signed | EX045 Statement of Common Ground RBC WBDC ONR Jan 26 signed |
| EX046 – RBC Hearing Statement Matter 3 | EX046 RBC Hearing Statement Matter 3 |
| EX047 – RBC Hearing Statement Matter 4 | EX047 RBC Hearing Statement Matter 4 |
| EX048 – RBC Hearing Statement Matter 5 | EX048 RBC Hearing Statement Matter 5 |
| EX049 – RBC Hearing Statement Matter 6 | EX049 RBC Hearing Statement Matter 6 |
| EX050 – RBC Hearing Statement Matter 7 | EX050 RBC Hearing Statement Matter 7 |
| EX051 – RBC Hearing Statement Matter 8 | EX051 RBC Hearing Statement Matter 8 |
| EX052 – RBC Hearing Statement Matter 9 | EX052 RBC Hearing Statement Matter 9 |
| EX053 – RBC Hearing Statement Matter 10 | EX053 RBC Hearing Statement Matter 10 |
| EX054 – RBC Hearing Statement Matter 11 | EX054 RBC Hearing Statement Matter 11 |
| EX055 – RBC Hearing Statement Matter 12 | EX055 RBC Hearing Statement Matter 12 |
| EX056 – Draft TER-based Fallback Policies | EX056 Draft TER-based Fallback Policies |
| EX057 – CBRE IM Hearing Statement Matter 3 | EX057 CBRE IM Hearing Statement Matter 3 |
| EX058 – Home Builders’ Federation Hearing Statement Matter 3 | EX058 Home Builders’ Federation Hearing Statement Matter 3 |
| EX059 – Mapledurham Properties Hearing Statement Matter 3 | EX059 Mapledurham Properties Hearing Statement Matter 3 |
| EX060 – University of Reading Hearing Statement Matter 3 | EX060 University of Reading Hearing Statement Matter 3 |
| EX061 – BOB ICB Hearing Statement Matter 9 | EX061 BOB ICB Hearing Statement Matter 9 |
| EX062 – Home Builders’ Federation Hearing Statement Matter 4 | EX062 Home Builders’ Federation Hearing Statement Matter 4 |
| EX063 – University of Reading Hearing Statement Matter 4 | EX063 University of Reading Hearing Statement Matter 4 |
| EX064 – Environment Agency Hearing Statement Matter 5 | EX064 Environment Agency Hearing Statement Matter 5 |
| EX065 – Home Builders’ Federation Hearing Statement Matter 5 | EX065 Home Builders’ Federation Hearing Statement Matter 5 |
| EX066 – University of Reading Hearing Statement Matter 5 | EX066 University of Reading Hearing Statement Matter 5 |
| EX067 – CBRE IM Hearing Statement Matter 6 | EX067 CBRE IM Hearing Statement Matter 6 |
| EX068 – Pang Valley Ramblers Hearing Statement Matter 7 | EX068 Pang Valley Ramblers Hearing Statement Matter 7 |
| EX069 – University of Reading Hearing Statement Matter 7 | EX069 University of Reading Hearing Statement Matter 7 |
| EX070 – Office for Nuclear Regulation Hearing Statement Matter 9 | EX070 Office for Nuclear Regulation Hearing Statement Matter 9 |
| EX071 – West Berkshire District Council Hearing Statement Matter 9 | EX071 West Berkshire District Council Hearing Statement Matter 9 |
| EX072 – CADRA Hearing Statement Matter 10 | EX072 CADRA Hearing Statement Matter 10 |
| EX073 – CBRE IM Hearing Statement Matter 10 | EX073 CBRE IM Hearing Statement Matter 10 |
| EX074 – Environment Agency Hearing Statement Matter 10 | EX074 Environment Agency Hearing Statement Matter 10 |
| EX075 – Keep Kentwood Green Hearing Statement Matter 10 (q10.39) | EX075 Keep Kentwood Green Hearing Statement Matter 10 (q10.39) |
| EX076 – Keep Kentwood Green Hearings Statement Matter 10 (q10.40) | EX076 Keep Kentwood Green Hearings Statement Matter 10 (q10.40) |
| EX077 – Mapledurham Properties Hearing Statement Matter 10 | EX077 Mapledurham Properties Hearing Statement Matter 10 |
| EX078 – SEGRO Hearing Statement Matter 10 | EX078 SEGRO Hearing Statement Matter 10 |
| EX079 – Tilehurst People’s Local Charity Hearing Statement Matter 10 | EX079 Tilehurst People’s Local Charity Hearing Statement Matter 10 |
| EX080 – University of Reading Hearing Statement Matter 10 | EX080 University of Reading Hearing Statement Matter 10 |
| EX081 – CBRE IM Hearing Statement Matter 11 | EX081 CBRE IM Hearing Statement Matter 11 |
| EX082 – West Berkshire District Council Hearing Statement Matter 10 | EX082 West Berkshire District Council Hearing Statement Matter 10 |
Last updated on 15/01/2026
Local plan examination