The Examination

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government appointed Mr Simon Emerson BSc DipTP MRTPI of the Planning Inspectorate to conduct the Public Examination into the soundness of the Epsom and Ewell Core Strategy, following the procedure set out in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and subsequent regulations.

The Inspector's task was to consider the soundness of the Core Strategy, having regard to the representations made during the six week consultation period which immediately followed publication of the Strategy in July 2006 and to further submissions subsequently made to him by the Borough Council or by representors who had previously made representations during the consultation period. 

The Inspector held public hearing sessions into aspects of the Core Strategy chosen by him on Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 January 2007 at the Town Hall, Epsom.
During the public hearing sessions the Council suggested some further changes could be made to the Core Strategy and made some final submissions.

Post Hearing

Subsequently, the Inspector indicated that two of the changes suggested by the Council, concerning housing provision and community, cultural and built sports facilities, were significant enough to warrant publicity to provide the opportunity for representations to be made on them.
The public consultation on these two changes ended on Thursday 5 April 2007.

Further details of the Inspector's role, the examination process, the hearings sessions and other procedural matters can be found in Inspector's Briefing Note for All Parties, issued in September 2006.