Examination of the County Durham Minerals and Waste Policies and Allocations document - publication of Inspectors Report

What is the Minerals and Waste Policies and Allocations Document (M&WDPD)?

Once adopted as a Development Plan Document (DPD) by us, the M&WDPD will form part of the statutory development plan for County Durham. Along with the County Durham Plan and any 'made' (adopted) Neighbourhood Plans it will provide the statutory decision-making framework for the determination of all planning applications for minerals and waste development in County Durham. It will also replace all remaining saved policies of the County Durham Minerals Local Plan (CDMLP) which was adopted in December 2000 and the County Durham Waste Local Plan (CDWLP) which was adopted in April 2005.

What is an independent examination?

This is a key stage in the preparation of a DPD. It follows on from consultation undertaken under Regulation 18 and 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 and submission to the Secretary of State. It is a form of a public inquiry where an independent Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State, will 'test' the document to see if it meets the requirements of the relevant legislation and to see if it is 'sound'. Soundness is tested by considering whether the document is justified; effective and consistent with national planning policy. Given that we has now received the Inspectors Final Report the examination into the County Durham M&WDPD has now concluded.

Timeline for the independent examination

On 11 August 2023, the council was provided with information by the appointed inspectors as to the timeline for the examination and a number of other key details were also provided. The provided information is set out in three documents which have been made available on the County Durham Minerals and Waste Policies and Allocations Document Examination - latest news and examination library. These documents are the IDO2 - Inspectors Guidance Notes, IDO3 - Matters Issues and Questions and IDO4 - Provisional Hearings Programme V1 August 2023.

Latest news and examination library

The Inspectors Report concluded that the County Durham Minerals and Waste Policies and Allocations Document Publication Draft Plan November 2022 (the Plan) provides an appropriate basis for the planning of minerals and waste in the County, provided that a number of main modifications (MMs) are made to it.  

We have also published a formal notice under Regulation 25 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 that we have published the Inspectors' Report. It specifies that the Inspectors Report can be viewed online and at County Hall Help Desk, County Hall, Akeley Heads, Durham DH1 5UL and at the Council's customer access points.

Next steps

The formal adoption of the County Durham Minerals and Waste Policies and Allocations Document will be considered by the Council's Cabinet and at County Council.