Guidance note for consultation

Guidance Note for completing consultation

The Local Plan will play a vital role in how we manage new development and coordinate investment. We want everyone with an interest in Lewisham to help shape the new plan.

A Regulation 19 consultation is the next stage of the Local Plan consultation process.  As part of the Regulation 19 consultation, we have prepared the Local Plan: Proposed Submission Document for public consultation which has been informed by the previous consultation and engagement exercises we have undertaken for the new plan. This includes public consultations on the Issues and Options document in October -November 2015, the Main Issues and Preferred Approaches Document in January -April 2021, Call for Sites exercises and engagement on evidence base documents.

During this consultation the Local Plan: Proposed Submission Document and its supporting documents will be made available for public inspection to provide any individual, group, or business the opportunity to make a representation. 

This Guidance Note should be read in conjunction with the Statement of Representation Procedure.  

Title of documents available for inspection and subject to this consultation:

• Lewisham Local Plan: Proposed Submission Document January 2023.
• Proposed Policies Map and Schedule of Proposed Changes to the Adopted Policies Map December 2022.
• Integrated Impact Assessment and Non-technical Summary December 2022.
• Habitats Regulations Assessment December 2022 

This consultation will require submissions to specifically focus on the following issues: 

Is the Plan Legally Compliant? 

Does the Plan comply with the relevant legislation and regulations in the way it has been prepared, and in its content?

The Planning Inspector will first check that the Local Plan meets the legal requirements of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) (the Act) and the Regulations before moving on to consider the tests of soundness. 

The Local Plan must meet the legal requirements under sections 19,20 and 24 of the Act, and duty to cooperate under section 20(5)(c) of the Act.  To be legally compliant, it should: 

• Be prepared in accordance with the Council’s Local Development Scheme (LDS).
• Be prepared in accordance with ethe Statement of community Involvement (SCI).
• Comply with the Regulations. 
• Be supported by a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) report.
• Have regard to national policies and advice.
• Be in general conformity with the London Plan.

Does the Plan comply with the ‘Duty to Cooperate’?

Lewisham Council must have demonstrated how it engaged constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis with adjoining Local Planning Authorities and other public bodies throughout the production of the Local Plan. 

Is the Plan Sound?

Has the Plan been ‘positively prepared’? Is it robustly justified and evidence-led? Will it be effective in what it sets out to achieve? Is it consistent with regional and national planning policy?

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (para.35) sets out that in order to be ‘sound’ a Local Plan should pass the following tests:

 How to complete the representation form

In submitting a representation, you will need to complete an online or physical representation form. When completing the form please: 

• Complete a new representation form for each matter that you wish to raise.
• Clearly identify which policy or part of the Plan your representation relates to.
• Indicate by ticking the relevant box if you wish to speak at the Examination.