Member

Plan-makers should collaborate with the local community, infrastructure providers and other stakeholders to develop those policies. Local plans are subject to public examination by an independent inspector to determine whether the local plan is sound and can be adopted. Local authorities can only adopt a plan that is sound, and part of the soundness test is that a plan should be consistent with national policy and be supported by evidence. The views of local people are required to be taken into account as part of the planning process. If the inspector is not satisfied that the plan meets the soundness test, it cannot be adopted by the local authority.