Latest news about the Local Plan Examination

The Council published a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (September 2020), which shows how many new pitches need to be provided up to 2037. To help meet the accommodation needs of the borough's Gypsy and Traveller communities the Council is looking to allocate sites through the review of its Local Plan.

As part of this we are now asking landowners to put forward land that they think is suitable for this use. Any sites which are submitted will be assessed for their suitability and help the Council to make decisions over where to allocate sites to meet their identified need for traveller pitches.

Sites can also be submitted by completing and returning the Site Submission Form (DOC, 38KB) and sending them to email PlanningPolicy@Befirst.London or via letter to the address below:

Be First
9th floor, Maritime House
1 Linton Rd,
Barking
IG11 8HG

You will also need to submit a map showing where the site is and what land it includes.

You must return the completed form by Monday 17 April 2023. After this date, we will assess all the sites received in order to decide which to take forward.

The Stage 1 Hearings for the examination of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Draft Local Plan 2019 - 2037 commenced at 10:00 on Tuesday 19th July 2022 and took place at Barking Town Hall, Town Hall Square, Barking IG11 7LU.

The associated Stage 1 Hearings documents (EX35-EX38), the Stage 1 Hearing Statements and Agendas (EX47-EX63), and the Inspectors Next Steps following the Stage 1 Hearings (EX73) can be viewed in our Examination Library: Local Plan Examination Library | Your Call Be First London

The council has now responded to part 2 of the Planning Inspectors Preliminary Matters and Questions Letter.

This response and the associated documents can be viewed in our Examination Library: Local Plan Examination Library | Your Call Be First London

The council has now responded to part 1 of the Planning Inspectors Preliminary Matters and Questions Letter.

This response and the associated documents can be viewed in our Examination Library: Local Plan Examination Library | Your Call Be First London

The Council has received a letter from the Inspectors which sets out a number Preliminary Matters and Questions.

This letter can be viewed in our Examination Library: Local Plan Examination Library | Your Call Be First London

The Council is currently working on a response to that letter which will be published on the examination website shortly

In accordance with section 20 (4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, Luke Fleming BSc (Hons) MRTPI and Guy Davies BSc (Hons) DipTP MRTPI have been appointed to hold an independent examination of the Barking and Dagenham Local Plan Review.

Following the Regulation 19 (2) consultation, which ended on 28 November 2021, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Draft Local Plan 2037 was submitted to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 20 December 2021. The details of this can be found in the Notice of Submission letter on the Examination Library.

All representations made through the Regulation 19 (1) and Regulation 19 (2) publications have been submitted to the Inspector.

The Secretary of State will appoint a Planning Inspector to examine the Plan against the test of soundness set out in the NPPF:

• positively prepared (i.e. the Plan seeks to meet needs);
• justified (i.e. the Plan is supported by evidence);
• effective (i.e. the Plan is ‘deliverable’) and;
• consistent with National and Regional Policy (i.e. broadly aligns with both the NPPF and the London Plan)

A timetable will be set out for Examination once an Inspector has been appointed.

For more information regarding Local Plan Examinations see the Procedure Guide for Local Plan Examinations