Local Plan (Fourth Edition)

There have been several stages in the preparation of the Local Plan. These are outlined below:

Plan Scoping and Call for Sites

To consider the issues to be addressed by the Local Plan, a scoping consultation was undertaken early in the plan-making process. Documents forming part of the public consultation held in Summer 2022 were the:

• Local Plan Scoping Report
• Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report
• Statement of Community Involvement

Comments received in response to the scoping consultation helped the Council prepare the first draft of the Local Plan.

The consultation also included a Call for Sites allowing members of the public, landowners, developers, or their agents to suggest potential sites for future development.

Preferred Options

The Preferred Options report is the Council’s first draft of its Local Plan.It was subject to a six-week public consultation in Summer 2023. Comments received in response to this consultation were considered when preparing the final draft  of the Local Plan.

Key documents downloads:

• Local Plan Preferred Options Report
• Sustainability Appraisal
• Sustainability Non-Technical Summary
• Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening Report
• Consultation Statement

Publication

This consultation provided an opportunity to comment on the ‘soundness’ of the final draft of the Council’s Local Plan. All comments received at this stage were sent to the Secretary of State on 18 February 2025, alongside the draft Local Plan and supporting documents, for independent examination.

Key document downloads:

• Local Plan Publication Version
• Sustainability Appraisal
• Sustainability Appraisal Non-Technical Summary
• Habitats Regulations Assessment
• Equalities Impact Assessment
• Consultation Statement (Publication)

Examination

The purpose of the Examination in Public was to determine whether the draft Local Plan was legally compliant and sound. The Secretary of State appointed Mr William Fieldhouse BA(Hons) MA MRTI as the Inspector to carry out the Examination.

Examination Library

The Core Submission Documents and Evidence Base Document Lists contain those documents that have informed the preparation of the Local Plan.

Copies of duly made representations submitted in response to the consultation on the Publication Draft Local Plan were also made available. These representations, and the Council’s response, are summarised in the Consultation Statement (Publication).

The Examination Document List includes correspondence and any reports prepared during the Examination.

Hearing Sessions

Hearings took place at Nelson Town Hall over a total of nine days in June and July 2025. The agendas for these hearings can be found in documents IN3 and IN4.1 to IN4.8.1 of the Examination Document List.

Main Modifications

Following the close of the hearing sessions, the Inspector asked the Council to prepare and consult on a list of Main Modifications to the Local Plan. The consultation took place over six weeks in September – October 2025.

Key document downloads:

• Schedule of Proposed Main Modifications
• Schedule of Proposed Changes to the Policies Map
• Sustainability Appraisal Addendum
• Habitats Regulations Assessment Addendum

Following the close of the consultation to consider the proposed Main Modifications all the comments received were submitted to the Inspector together with the Council’s response.

Inspector’s Report

Receipt of the Inspector’s Report on 20 November 2025 concluded the Examination in Public. Subject to modification, the Pendle Local Plan Fourth Edition 2021-2040 has been found to be legally compliant and sound. A copy of the report can be viewed below:

• Inspector’s Report of the Pendle Local Plan Fourth Edition

The decision apply the modifications recommended by the Inspector and adopt the revised Local Plan, was made at Full Council 18 December 2025. The Local Plan now forms part of the statutory development plan for Pendle and will be used to help determine applications for planning permission in Pendle.