Development Plan Document Examinations - Programme Officer Guidance Notes
15. CLOSING THE HEARING PART OF EXAMINATION
15.1 Points to note are:
- The Inspector will fix the date for the close of the last hearing session of the examination.
- The LPA must have finalised and submitted its responses to representations in sufficient time so as to allow respondents a reasonable time to respond to them (usually 2 weeks).
- Two weeks notice is generally given to respondents, agents, Press/Media and interested parties of the closure date.
- To enable The Planning Inspectorate to keep up to date on each examination, a standard package of information should be forwarded to your contact in the Planning Inspectorate LDF team as and when it is available:
- Notes of the PEM;
- Examination Programme produced before the Examination;
- Examination Programme as finally occurred;
- Closure Letter; and
- Statistics of the Examination, including number of representations (objections and support) at submission stage; number of representors heard at the examination; and duration of the hearing part of the examination including days/half days spent on site visits between the opening and the close of the examination.
15.2 Please note that when the last hearing session has taken place the Inspector may wish to keep the examination open whilst the report is being written. This will enable the Inspector to seek clarification on any matters which may have arisen under the written representations process (for further information see PPS12, para D46).
