News and updates
Main Modifications Consultation
Further to the Hearings the Inspectors have recommended some changes to the submitted Local Plan to make the plan sound, in accordance with planning legislation. Further information about this process can be found on the Examination Website
You can also see the definitions of ‘soundness’ by scrolling down this page to the Regulation 19 section, these definitions are in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (December 2023), under which the plan is being examined. You can also see the different stages the review of the local plan has been through by scrolling down this page.
The changes needed to make the plan sound are called Main Modifications. We are now consulting on these, along with the accompanying changes to the Policies Map and the updated Sustainability Appraisal addendum which incorporates updated Habitats Regulations Assessment screening and its appendices. You can also comment on the updated Equalities and Health Impact Assessment
The consultation runs from Wednesday 19 August until 11.59pm on Thursday 1 October and comments can only be made in regard to the documents specified above. For completeness we are also publishing a schedule of Additional Modifications (minor non-substantive changes to the plan such as correcting typos etc) although this is not a consultation document.
Making a representation:
Your comments (representations) should only relate to the Main Modifications (including associated changes to the Policies Map, the Sustainability Appraisal addendum, the updated Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening and the Equalities and Health Impact Assessment). Comments should be clear and succinct and specify which Main Modification reference they relate to and why you think it should be changed – supported by evidence where possible.
To make representations please use the form which you can find here . Separate forms should be used for each Main Modification you wish to comment on. Please see our guidance note for more information.
Response forms should be returned by no later than 11:59pm on the closing date of 1 October 2026 :
- via the online consultation system
- by email to planningpolicy@coventry.gov.uk
- by post to: Planning Policy Team, PO Box 7097, Coventry City Council, CV6 9SL
Printed copies of the consultation documents are available to view at the Council House reception, all community libraries and Keresley library.
Local Plan Examination in Public: Hearings
Examination hearings took place between March 24th and June 9th 2026. For further information see the Examination website here
Submission of Local Plan
The Local Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State on 9 September 2025 for independent examination by the Planning Inspectorate. Please see our Statement of Fact here
Read more about the submission documents.
To keep up to date on the progress of the examination, and to view the examination documents and information about the examination hearings, please visit the Coventry Local Plan Examination webpage.
Where to view the documents
Local Plan Review documents can be viewed on the Councils website and hard copies of the Local Plan Proposed Submission document, the Sustainability Appraisal Report, the Submission Policies Map and the Consultation Statement can all be viewed in the following locations:
- at the Council House reception, Earl Street, Coventry CV1 5RR during normal opening hours
- at all libraries in the city
- at Keresley Library during normal opening hours
The Council has appointed a Programme Officer – Helen Wilson who can be contacted via helen@programmeofficers.co.uk
Local Plan review consultation
We consulted on the Regulation 19 (Proposed Submission) stage of the Local Plan Review between Monday 20 January 2025 and Monday 3 March 2025. You can also view the representations.
This was a formal, statutory stage in the preparation of the Local Plan. Following the consultation, and subject to approval from Council, all representations will be sent, along with the revised Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate to be examined by a government-appointed Planning Inspector who will consider if any changes need to be made to the Local Plan before it can be adopted.
During the Examination of the Local Plan the Planning Inspector is only able to assess whether the revised Local Plan has been prepared in accordance with legal and procedural requirements, and whether it is ‘sound’. Therefore, all representations on the draft Local Plan must relate to a matter of legal compliance or a matter of soundness as follows:
Legal compliance: Does the Local Plan comply with the legal and procedural requirements for its preparation?
Soundness: Is the Local Plan sound? Has it been positively prepared, justified, effective and aligned with national policy? Does it meet the following four tests? It must be:
- Positively prepared – the Plan has attempted to meet all of Coventry’s housing and employment land needs and discussions have taken place with neighbouring councils to help meet any shortfalls.
- Justified – the Plan sets out a development strategy that has been informed by up-to-date evidence and consideration has been given to alternative strategies.
- Effective – the Plan is deliverable, and efforts have been made to address any issues impacting on the broader region.
- Consistent with national policy.
Duty to Cooperate: Has the plan complied with the Duty to Cooperate? Has the Council engaged and collaborated effectively with neighbouring authorities and other legally prescribed organisations in preparing the Local Plan?
The Sustainability Appraisal, which is an assessment of how the proposals and policies of the plan meet a range of sustainability criteria was also available for comments.
Documents
Local Plan: View our Regulation 19 Consultation and Plan Preparation Documents. They can also be viewed on our Online consultation system.
Evidence Base: View documents which have informed the review, including the evidence base and explanatory background papers.
Making a representation
The window for representations has now closed. Should you have any questions, please email planningpolicy@coventry.gov.uk
Webinars
Webinars took place on 5 and 7 February. View the slides.
Previous consultation stage
We consulted on the first stage of the Local Plan Review in summer 2023. This stage was called Issues and Options (Regulation 18) and was about determining the scope of the review and which of the adopted Local Plan policies needed updating. View the consultation documents.
The plan review timetable is set out in our Local Development Scheme timetable. We will provide an update to the Local Plan timescale shortly.