Inspector 

Following submission to the Secretary of State of the Bedford Borough Council Local Plan 2030 on 14 December 2018, Inspectors Malcolm Rivett BA(Hons) MSc MRTPI and Anne Jordan BA (Hons) MRTPI have been appointed by the Secretary of State to carry out the independent Examination of the Local Plan.

The Inspectors' task is to consider whether the Plan meets the relevant legal requirements, and whether it is sound, based on the criteria set out in paragraph 182 of the National Planning Policy Framework (the Framework).

The relevant soundness criteria are whether the Local Plan is:

1. positively prepared (based on a strategy that seeks to meet objectively assessed development and infrastructure requirements, including unmet requirements from neighbouring authorities where it is reasonable to do so and consistent with achieving sustainable development);
2. justified (the most appropriate strategy when considered against the reasonable alternatives, based on proportionate evidence);
3. effective (the plan should be deliverable over its period and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic priorities); and
4. consistent with national policy (the plan should enable the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the Framework).

Programme Officer

Louise St John Howe has been appointed as the Programme Officer. She is an independent Officer of the examination and works on behalf of the Inspector to organise and manage the administrative and procedural matters of the Examination process. She is the appropriate point of contact for any queries in relation to the examination, and all correspondence with the Inspector should be addressed through her.

Louise St John Howe
Programme Officer 
PO Services 
PO Box 10965
Sudbury
Suffolk CO10 3BF

Telephone: 07789 486419
Email: louise@poservices.co.uk