The Local Plan must be informed by appropriate and proportionate evidence. The National Planning Policy Framework states that the preparation and review of all policies should be underpinned by relevant and up-to-date evidence. 

We have undertaken or commissioned a range of studies which have supported the preparation of the Local Plan and the Local Plan review. 

The examination library contains a list of documents submitted for examination and background evidence documents that have informed the submission Local Plan. It also contains documents relating to the examination and will be updated as the examination progresses.

The supporting evidence base has been grouped to reflect the overarching themes of our Local Plan 2024 to 2040:

• topic papers
• development strategy
• wellbeing and communities
• economic growth and social mobility
• housing
• environmental sustainability

Please see the 'In this section' box above to read more about these evidence based themes.