Local Plan Partial Review: Examination

The Wandsworth Local Plan Partial Review (Publication Version), along with supporting documents, was submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination in public on 30 April 2025.

The Wandsworth Local Plan was adopted in July 2023 and sets out a vision and strategy to guide the future development in the borough from 2023 to 2038. It also contains all of the ‘policies’ that the planning applications we receive are considered against.

We are currently conducting a Partial Review of this Local Plan which includes a review and update of our planning policies to ensure we are delivering more genuinely affordable housing, with an emphasis on new social rented housing. This supports our target for 50% of new homes built in the borough to be affordable.

Find out more about the Regulation 19 consultation held on the Local Plan Partial Review between 13 January and 24 February 2025.

Examination

The examination assesses whether the Wandsworth Local Plan Partial Review was prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements and whether it is ‘sound’, in accordance with paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

A Local Plan is considered ‘sound’ if it is:

  • Positively prepared, meaning that the plan is prepared based on a strategy which seeks to meet objectively assessed needs; and is informed by agreement with other authorities, so that unmet need from neighbouring areas is accommodated where it is practical to do so and is consistent with achieving sustainable development
  • Justified, meaning that the plan is an appropriate strategy, taking into account the reasonable alternatives, and is based on proportionate evidence
  • Effective, meaning that the plan is deliverable over its period (in this case 15 years), and is based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic matters
  • Consistent with national policy, meaning that the plan should enable the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the polices in the NPPF and other statements of national planning policy

For more information on how the examination is carried out, please see the Procedure Guide for Local Plan Examinations (GOV.UK).

This page will be updated as the Wandsworth Local Plan Partial Review progresses.

Examination news

Keep up to date with the latest information on the examination:

Planning Inspectors and programme officer

Wandsworth Council appointed Charlotte Glancy of Banks Solutions as the programme officer to manage the procedural and administrative aspects of the examination. Charlotte works independently from the council and acts as the main channel of communication between the Inspector and all parties participating in the examination, including council officers and representors.

All correspondence or queries relating to the examination should be directed to the programme officer:

On 22 May 2025, the Planning Inspectorate confirmed that the Secretary of State has appointed G.Wyatt BA (Hons) MRTPI as the Planning Inspector overseeing the independent examination of the Wandsworth Local Plan Partial Review.

Consultation on proposed Main Modifications to the Local Plan Partial Review

Following the hearing sessions held between 4 and 6 November 2025 as part of the Local Plan Partial Review’s Examination, the Planning Inspector has proposed a list of Main Modifications to the Local Plan Partial Review. These have been made available for public consultation for a period of 7 weeks from 26 November 2025 and closing at 11.59pm on 14 January 2026.

The proposed Main Modifications are accompanied by an updated Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulation Assessment.

View the consultation documents:

Physical copies of the consultation materials are also available at Wandsworth Town Hall and the Borough’s main libraries (Balham, Battersea, Putney, Roehampton, Tooting and Wandsworth Town) during normal opening hours.

About the consultation

This consultation is only on the Inspector’s proposed Main Modifications, and the published addendums, and not on matters relating to other aspects of the Local Plan Partial Review which have already been considered by the Inspector during the examination process and hearing sessions. Any representations received that do not relate to the Main Modifications may not be forwarded to the Inspector.

The Inspector wishes to consult on the Main Modifications to help him determine whether the Local Plan Partial Review, with the modifications proposed, is sound and meets legal requirements. There are four ‘tests’ of soundness which those looking to respond to the consultation should have regard to. These are listed under the Examination section on this page. 

How to respond to the consultation

Responses to the consultation can be made by email or post:

An optional response form is available which you may find useful.

Please note, responses must be accompanied by your name, the name of your organisation (where relevant) and your contact address. Your response to the consultation will not be confidential and will be published alongside your name/organisation. Your contact details and other personal information will not be published.

Anonymous and late responses will not be accepted.

Key details on the consultation are set out in the Statement of Representations Procedure Notice.

The Main Modifications

Main Modifications are proposed changes to the version of the Local Plan Partial Review that the Council submitted to the Secretary of State in April 2025. These changes will affect the ‘soundness’ and/or ‘legal compliance’ of the plan. The changes being consulted on have been proposed by the Planning Inspector as part of the examination process. The changes proposed may be necessary to enable the Local Plan Partial Review to be formally adopted. The proposed Main Modifications consist of a schedule of the changes proposed in the order of the policies as they appear in the submitted version of the Local Plan Partial Review.

Responses to the consultation will be sent to the Inspector who will consider them before making their final recommendations on the Local Plan Partial Review.

How the Main Modifications have been put together

Following the conclusion of the hearing sessions in early November, the Inspector undertaking the Examination of the Local Plan Partial Review, Graham Wyatt BA(Hons) MRTPI, has produced the modifications which the Council is consulting on his behalf. This is without prejudice to the Inspector’s ultimate conclusions and recommendations on the Local Plan.

Examination library

A separate examination library has been prepared which includes links to all of the documents submitted by the Council to the Secretary of State.

The examination library will be updated as more documents are added.

Contact

Email: planningpolicy@wandsworth.gov.uk

Planning Policy
Environment and Community Services
Town Hall
Wandsworth High Street
London
SW18 2PU