Every local plan examination needs a programme officer (PO) to keep things moving along smoothly. With so many legacy local plans progressing towards examination, if you are aiming for a legacy submission and haven’t yet lined up your PO then now's a good time. And, as from 2027 the first POs will start taking on plans in the new system, this really is a topic for everyone involved in local plans. Here we look at what the role involves, when to appoint and the training available from the Planning Inspectorate.
What is a programme officer ?
The Programme Officer is the person who keeps everything connected and moving in a local plan examination, they could be described as part administrative support and part project manager. They sit at the centre of communications between the inspector, the local planning authority and other participants throughout the process and the role operates with a degree of autonomy and responsibility.
Why are we talking about this now?
With a record number of local plan examinations expected over the next 12 months, experienced POs are going to be in high demand. Deciding your approach early, ideally well before submission, puts you in a much stronger position, with time to consider options and take up training.
What does the PO do?
The PO handles all the administration that keeps an examination running - managing correspondence between the Inspector and participants, coordinating hearings, maintaining the examination website and document library, and handling the representor database. Outside hearing sessions, all contact with the Inspector flows through them.
When's the right time to appoint?
The earlier the better. Ideally by Regulation 19 stage, so they can get across the representations and help set up the examination website and document library from the start. Independent POs may book jobs well in advance. The Planning Inspectorate will ask for your PO's contact details before appointing an inspector.
Who can we appoint?
There are two main options – external or in-house. To source external programme officers, LPAs can draw on the experienced independent POs operating in the sector. A list of POs who have attended Planning Inspectorate training is available on request by emailing plans.admin@planninginspectorate.gov.uk.
It's also worth knowing that an in-house appointment is a perfectly viable option - and as the free Planning Inspectorate training is available for both new and experienced POs, if you have someone suitable in mind, there's support available to bring them up to speed. The key condition for an internal appointee is that they must be separate from your planning team and have had no involvement in preparing the plan. It’s a role which requires strong project management skills and good communication and people skills.
How much of their time should we expect to need?
It varies quite a bit across the examination lifecycle and can be dependent upon the complexity of the plan being examined. As a guide, roughly one day a week at Regulation 19 stage is typical, rising to two or three days around submission, and full-time in the run-up to and during hearings. It is important that programme officers have sufficient availability to support the examination through to its anticipated conclusion, helping to avoid delays to the process. It's worth factoring this into your budget planning early - and the PO should stay in post until the Inspector's final report is delivered.
Where can we find out more?
The full programme officer advice and the Procedure Guide for Local Plan Examinations are available on GOV.UK. Additionally, this blog gives more insights into the role. Your plans administrative team are here to provide advice - contact them at plans.admin@planninginspectorate.gov.uk.
Still weighing up your options, or want to hear it from someone who's done the job?
Earlier in the year, the Planning Advisory Service’s (PAS) Anna Rose hosted an online conversation with an independent programme officer about what the role really involves day to day, and what LPAs should be thinking about now if they haven't yet secured one. Watch the conversation
Leave a comment