Chelmsford’s Local Plan Examination hearings set to begin in November

Public hearings examining Chelmsford’s Local Plan will begin on Tuesday 10 November 2026, marking a key stage in the independent review of how the district could sustainably grow and develop over the next 15 years.

The council submitted Chelmsford’s Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in June. Since then, Planning Inspectors have begun their review of the Plan and have shared Matters, Issues and Questions they would like to look into further. To help them do this, a number of public hearings will now take place to give the Inspectors an opportunity to explore these points in detail with the council, stakeholders and other participants.

The Examination process will help the Inspectors decide whether the Plan is sound, legally compliant and consistent with national policy.

Public hearing sessions to take place

The public examination hearings are set to begin on Tuesday 10 November 2026 at the Civic Centre in Chelmsford.

To help the hearings run smoothly, the Inspectors are supported by an independent Programme Officer, who helps to organise and manage the process and is responsible for communicating with participants during the examination.

Hearing sessions are scheduled take place:

10–12 November

17–19 November

1–3 December

During the hearings, the Inspectors will consider topics raised in the Matters, Issues and Questions with council representatives, stakeholders and members of the public who made comments during the earlier consultation stages. People who made comments seeking a change to the draft Plan during either of the two Regulation 19 consultation stages may be invited to take part by the Programme Officer. Participants can take part by submitting a written response or speaking at one of the hearings, with both options given equal weighting by the Inspectors. If you made a comment and do not want to attend a hearing, your comments will still be fully considered. Those not taking part in the hearings will be able to watch proceedings from the public gallery or online via live stream.

The examination hearings will take place at the Civic Centre.

Final report to be issued

Once the Inspectors have concluded the public hearings, they will take time to consider the evidence presented and will produce a comprehensive report on legal and soundness matters. They will also publish a schedule of modifications setting out any changes needed to make the Local Plan sound. The proposed modifications will be considered at a full meeting of Chelmsford City Council before being published for formal public consultation.

Properly planned development

An up-to-date Local Plan will help Chelmsford grow in a coordinated and sustainable way. Councils are legally required to review their Local Plans at least every five years so they continue to reflect national policy and changing local needs.

The Plan provides a framework for managing future development by identifying the best locations for new homes, jobs, schools, roads and green spaces. It also protects valued landscapes, heritage assets and community facilities, while helping to ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with growth. Keeping it up to date is vital: without it, the council has less influence over where development takes place and is more vulnerable to potentially harmful speculative proposals.

Councillor Richard Lee, Cabinet Member for Planning and Place-Shaping, said the hearings are a valuable opportunity to ensure that future growth reflects local priorities:

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“The public hearings provide a welcome opportunity to build on the constructive conversations that have brought us to this point and for people to engage in the decisions that will shape our district. Chelmsford has a long history of producing good quality Local Plans and the latest will help ensure Chelmsford’s future development is properly planned and shaped by local needs. We’re confident it provides a clear blueprint for delivering the homes, jobs and infrastructure Chelmsford needs, while protecting the places and spaces people value.”

Councillor Richard Lee, Cabinet Member for Planning and Place-Shaping, Chelmsford City Council

Further information

Details of the examination, including the latest updates and further information about the hearing sessions, will be published on the council’s website www.chelmsford.gov.uk/lp-examination