Examination in Public
The Examination in Public (EIP) into the Deposit Draft Structure Plan (March 2002) opened in Reading on 2nd September 2003 and closed on 23rd September after sitting for 10 days. The Panel heard representations from around one hundred participants, some supporting aspects of the plan and others seeking changes to it. All the major topics covered by the plan were subject to scrutiny.
EIP Panel
The report of the EIP Panel was published on 16 December 2003 and can be downloaded by clicking here. In broad terms the Panel has recommended few changes to the Deposit Draft Structure Plan other than those suggested to it by the JSPU and the Unitary Authorities before and during the EIP. The Panel (see report preface) recommends that the Unitary Authorities modify the Deposit Draft Structure Plan as set out in the Proposed Changes to the Deposit Draft (March 2003) in respect of any matter which was the subject of the EIP, except where superseded by recommendations to make further changes, as set out in the body of the report. Below is a summary of the Panel’s recommendations for further changes:
General Strategy:
The overall strategy of the Plan should be clearer and in particular its emphasis on “polycentric” growth of a number of major towns linked by a strategic transport network, and to make clearer what the respective roles of those towns will be. The Panel also recommends that the Plan contains a clearer description of the role of settlements other than major towns and gives greater prominence to the Plan’s priority to previously developed land.
Housing:
The Panel has made no recommendations to change either the overall housing numbers, nor their distribution among the Unitary Authorities. Nor has it recommended any specific strategic housing allocations on greenfield land. However, the Panel does recommend that Policy H3 on the location of housing is tied more closely with the focus on major towns.
Shopping:
Following their concern with having a more explicit description of the role of different settlements in the Plan, the Panel recommends that a distinction is made between the status of different major town centres, much as was the case in the adopted Structure Plan.
Recreation:
The Panel recommends the inclusion of a policy on countryside recreation.
Transport:
In addition to accepting changes made by Officers at the EIP to reorganise the Transport chapter of the Plan to make the overall transport strategy the first policy, the Panel recommends that the transport schemes referred to in paragraphs 9.07 to 9.14 are prioritised.
Environment:
The Panel accepted changes made by Officers at the EIP to improve the wording of Policies EN1 and EN3.
JSPU Response to EIP Panel Report
The JSPC agreed formal Proposed Modifications to the Deposit Draft Plan on 23 February 2004. These arose from consideration of: the representations on the Deposit Draft and the Proposed Changes and the recommendations in the EIP Panel's Report. The JSPC 's decisions and reasons are set out in The Statement of Decisions of the Berkshire Unitary Authories JSPC on the Recommendations of the Examination in Public Panel.
The Resoned List of Proposed Modifications to the Deposit Draft, and the Statement of Decisions on the Panel’s Recommendations were placed on deposit during March/April 2004. The formal consultation period ended on 27th April 2004.
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