Planning inspectors have halted the public examination into the Wiltshire Council Local Plan Review.

Philip Mileham and Gareth Wildgoose suspended the hearings for the council to carry out more work on a number of matters on which they have ‘concerns’.

They have written to the council’s head of spatial planning Georgina Clampitt-Dix to postpone the remaining hearing sessions.

They said: “We have already heard significant discussion on the Sustainability Appraisal, Habitats Regulations Assessment, housing need and the housing requirement, and employment land, together with the plan period.

“We have a number of concerns on these matters and as discussed with you, further work will be required.

“In this light, there has already been significant discussion on the implications of these matters on the spatial strategy.

“It is also clear that the further work we require will likely impact future discussions on the spatial strategy and other aspects of the plan.

“As a result, we consider that in order for the examination to be effective, the remaining hearing sessions currently in the draft programme should be postponed to allow for this further work to be completed.

“We will write to you again in due course to set out in greater detail what work we consider will be required at this stage.

“However, in the interests of expediency, we felt it necessary to advise you and the other participants of our intentions as soon as possible noting the timings in the hearing programme.”

It is important that a robust and comprehensive draft is in place for examination although further work at this late stage may well delay the process.

ENDS