Worthing Local Plan Main Modifications Consultation - April 2022

Update - March 2023: Worthing Borough Council formally adopted the Worthing Local Plan 2020-2036 at Full Council on 28th March 2023. To view the adopted Worthing Local Plan please see:

Adopted Worthing Local Plan - March 2023

Update - October 2022: The Inspector's report was issued to the Council on the 14th October 2022. The report concludes that, subject to the inclusion of a number of modifications listed in the report, the Submission Draft Worthing Local Plan is sound and legally compliant and provides an appropriate basis for planning in the borough. For further information please see:

Worthing Local Plan Submission & Examination

Following the close of the Hearing Sessions, in December 2021 the Council received the Inspector's Post Hearing Advice Letter (IL07) which sets out the proposed changes or Main Modifications (MMs) needed to ensure that the Worthing Local Plan is legally compliant and passes the government's tests of 'soundness':

IL07 - Post Hearing Advice Letter (204KB)

The Inspector asked that we consult on these proposed Main Modifications (MMs). The proposed MMs are put forward without prejudice to the Inspector's final conclusions.

The consultation on the Worthing Local Plan Main Modifications ran for 6 weeks between Tuesday 5th April and Tuesday 17th May 2022. Although the consultation period has now closed all key documents are still available to view below.

Representations made during consultation:

All representations that were received during the consultation period can be viewed below.

Note: this is a redacted document so cannot be accessibility checked
Proposed Main Modifications Representations Schedule (4,473KB)

Additional representations were received but they do not relate to the Main Modifications. It was made clear that this was a focussed consultation relating just to the proposed Main Modifications and related documents and that it wasn't an opportunity to comment on or object to other areas of the Plan which remain unchanged. The additional representations can be viewed below.

Note: this is a redacted document so cannot be accessibility checked
Additional Representations Received Not Related to Main Modifications Schedule (503KB)

A summary table of comments and the Council's response can be viewed below:

WLP - Summary of Representations & Officer Comments - June 2022 (366KB)

Proposed Main Modifications Consultation Documents

The Schedule of Main Modifications identifies specific changes to the wording of certain policies and supporting text of the Submission Draft Worthing Local Plan Jan 2021 (as submitted for examination).

Consequential changes needed to the Policies Maps are set in a separate Mapping Extracts Document. This document sets out the amendments proposed for the Local Plan Policies Map.

These relate to the Main Modifications to the Submission version of the Local Plan and may be necessary to ensure policies in the Plan are sound.

In addition, the Council published Additional Modifications (AMs) which are non-consequential changes and are not necessary for soundness. These changes make the Plan clearer and provide factual updates but don't materially affect the implementation of the plan policies.

The proposed modifications made to the Policies Maps set out in MOD4 above have been incorporated within the maps below:

Please note: due to the size and complexity of the maps they cannot be accessibility checked. If you need assistance with the map documents please contact the Planning Policy Team: planning.policy@adur-worthing.gov.uk

Main Modifications Schedule

The Council prepared an accessible version of the Main Modifications Schedule for users of assistive technology such as a screen reader. Chapter versions of the Main Modifications are also available to download as well as the complete document:

Additional Documents

There are a number of other additional documents notes that were produced during the hearing sessions at the request of the Inspector to respond to issues raised and to help clarify and support the Council's position. These documents have informed the Main Modifications.

In response to some concerns that were raised during the Hearing Sessions the Council has prepared an addendum to the Sustainability Appraisal providing an update to Section 5.2. This document, which provides additional clarity on how options were appraised, is available for comment:

WBC-E-24 - Sustainability Appraisal Update to Section 5.2 (18,862KB)

Next stages

The representations have been sent to the Inspector for his consideration.

The Inspector will consider all the representations made before finalising the examination report and the schedule of recommended Main Modifications (MMs).

Normally, all issues arising from the consultation on the MMs should be capable of being considered through the written representations procedure. Further hearing sessions will only be necessary exceptionally.

All respondents at this, and previous stages, will be notified at appropriate times as the Plan progresses towards adoption. Interested parties who might not already be on the Council's Planning Policy database can register for updates by contacting the Planning Policy Team on:

planning.policy@adur-worthing.gov.uk
or 01273 263000

Privacy Notice

Please be aware that all representations received by the council will be publicly available (personal contact details will not be published). The Council's privacy notice can be read here: