THE latest version of plans that set out the next 15 years of development in Redditch borough has been submitted to the Government for examination.

Redditch Council officers sent off the Borough of Redditch Local Plan No.4 to the Planning Inspectorate on March 12 after making minor corrections to the evidence base in regard to housing requirements, which remained at 6,400 homes.

The plan recommends that 3,000 of the homes required before 2030 should be built in the borough and 3,400 over the border in Bromsgrove district.

The Planning Inspectorate, which is appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, is now expected to test the soundness and legal compliance of the plan in an examination in public over the summer.

The council will seek to formally adopt the plan soon after the examination in public, should the Planning Inspectorate agree that it is sound.

Councillor Greg Chance, who is responsible for planning, said: “This plan has been in creation for over seven years. During that time we have held numerous public consultations and amended the documents to reflect residents’ concerns where possible, and the changing evidence we have been given on the local area. I am pleased it has now been submitted.

“I would like to thank all the staff for all their hard work and professionalism in making this plan which I am confident will serve the best interests of the entire borough.”

All of the submission documents will soon be available to view at redditchbc.gov.uk/examination, alongside a complete set of all evidence base documents.

Paper copies of the document that has been submitted, together with the sustainability appraisal report, the policies map, statement of consultation, copies of representations made at the proposed submission stage in September-November, a summary of the main issues raised by those representations and relevant supporting background documents are available for inspection from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, at the town hall, Walter Stranz Square, Redditch.

A paper copy of the documentation is also available for inspection during normal opening hours at Redditch Council’s Customer Service Centres in Batchley, Winyates and Woodrow as well as Redditch Library in the town centre, Woodrow Library and the mobile library.