Main Modifications Consultation

When does the consultation take place?

The consultation takes place from Thursday, 11 April 2024 to 5pm on Friday, 24 May 2024. Responses should be made through the Council’s online consultation portal (https://dover-consult.objective.co.uk/kse).

What are Main Modifications?

Following the close of the public hearing sessions for the Examination of the Dover District Local Plan in December 2023, the Government-appointed Planning Inspectors examining the Local Plan have recommended a number of Main Modifications to make the Plan ‘sound’.

The Council must now hold a public consultation on the Schedule of Main Modifications to the Local Plan (ED48), which runs from Thursday 11th April to Friday 24th May 2024.

There are two supporting evidence base documents also open for consultation alongside the Main Modifications – the Sustainability Appraisal for Main Modifications (ED52) and Habitats Regulation Assessment 2024 (ED53), in addition to a Schedule of Policies Map Modifications arising from Main Modifications (ED51).

What is being consulted on?

• ED48: Schedule of Main Modifications to the Local Plan
• ED51: Schedule of Policies Map Modifications arising from Main Modifications
• ED52: Sustainability Appraisal Addendum - Main Modifications
• ED53: Habitats Regulation Assessment 2024

ED48 contains the proposed Main Modifications to the Submission Local Plan (ED48). The consultation on Main Modifications proposes changes to the Regulation 19 Submission Document which have been recommended by the Inspectors as being needed to make the plan ‘sound’. The changes are proposed to address the Inspectors’ Initial Findings (ED45) and changes agreed during the hearing sessions themselves, including some of those proposed in the Council’s hearing statements and Statements of Common Ground

ED51: A schedule of ‘Policies Map Modifications’ (PMMs) arising from Main Modifications or the need for a factual correction is also available for information only alongside the Main Modifications consultation. This does not include any changes to maps or diagrams within the Plan document which are included in the Schedule of Main Modifications.

ED52: Sustainability Appraisal - Main Modifications presents the SA of the proposed Main Modifications to the Dover District Local Plan and considers their implications for the SA findings reported previously. Together with the September 2022 SA Report and the subsequent errata sheets and addendum listed above, the Addendum (ED52) represents an appraisal of the Dover District Local Plan as proposed to be modified, updating the findings that were presented in these documents. The SA Addendum should therefore be read alongside the September 2022 SA Report and those subsequent SA documents.

ED53: Habitats Regulations Assessment April 2024 is a composite version of all updates that have taken place to the HRA since the consultation on the Regulation 19 September 2022 HRA and incorporates consideration of the Main Modifications.

Supporting Documentation

To view a summary of the Main Modifications and other documents out for consultation please view Summary Leaflet Main Modifications

A schedule of ‘Additional Modifications’ (AMs)(ED50) is available for information only alongside the Main Modifications consultation. The Schedule sets out minor and/or factual changes to text in the Plan which are not required for ‘soundness’ reasons and are therefore not subject to public consultation.

Can I comment on parts of the plan that are not Main Modifications?

No. The consultation is limited to comments on the Schedule of Main Modifications (ED48) (including corresponding Policies Map Modifications), Sustainability Appraisal of Main Modifications (ED52) and Habitats Regulation Assessment (ED53) only. The consultation does not offer the opportunity to repeat or raise further representations about other parts of the Plan, or seek wider changes, which are not relevant to a Main Modification. Comments made during the previous public consultations on the draft Local Plan and during the Examination process are in front of the Inspectors and will be considered by them in their final report to the council.

How do I respond?

Representations are encouraged to be made through the Council’s online consultation portal (https://dover-consult.objective.co.uk/kse) where you can view The Main Modifications Schedule (ED48) and all the supporting documents, in addition to the Sustainability Appraisal Main Modifications (ED52) and Habitats Regulations Assessment Report (2024)(ED53) which are also open for public consultation over the same time period.

A paper copy of the representation forms and guidance notes can also be provided on request by contacting the team using the information below, or by collecting copies from the Council offices or one of the libraries listed above, during opening hours.

Paper copies of representation forms should be returned to: Local Plan Team, Dover District Council, White Cliffs Business Park, Dover, Kent. CT16 3PJ

Please note that your representation will be publicly available, and a copy will be published on the Council’s website. Your representations and name/name of your organisation will be published, but other personal information will remain confidential. Data will be processed and held in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. A privacy notice with further information can be found www.dover.gov.uk/Website/PDFs/Planning-Policy-Privacy-Notice.pdf

All representations must be received by 5pm on the 24th May 2024 and will be submitted to the Inspectors appointed to undertake the public Examination of the Dover District Local Plan to 2040.

For full details please see our Statement of Representation Procedure.

Where can I view hard copies?

The Main Modifications and other documents can be found here Examination Documents. Paper copies of the lists of modifications will be held at the following locations:

Council Offices, White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield 01304 821199 – open Monday to Friday 10 am – 4 pm

Mobile Libraries - For full library details call 03000 413131

Libraries in Dover District

The details for deposit points are correct as of March 2024 but may change due to circumstance. If you are having trouble viewing a hard copy of the documents, please contact us.

What happens to the representations?

As the Local Plan is now within Examination stage, the comments received will be sent to the appointed Inspectors for them to consider. If the Inspectors require further information about any comments made, they may request clarification in writing from the relevant parties or re open the hearing sessions to enable there to be public discussion. Once the Inspectors are satisfied they have all the information they require, they will provide the Council with their final written report on whether they consider the modified Local Plan is ‘sound’ and whether it can be adopted by the Council.

If you have any questions, or have any issues accessing the Local Plan consultation online, please telephone the Local Plan team on 01304 872244 – between the hours of 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday for assistance or email localplan@dover.gov.uk. If you require assistance with an accessible format of our documents (such as large print or audio format) please contact the Planning Policy Team using the above number.