Thames Farm Inquiry Dates

Thames Farm Update as at 15th November....lots of activity with due diligence with Statement of Case due 8th December and Hearing/Inquiry to start 24th March 2026 for projected 8 days .

The 3 Local Councils - Henley Town Council, Harpsden Parish and Shiplake Parish, have jointly agreed to fund the Case to be made at the forthcoming Public Inquiry, and have joined together with TFAG to be a ‘Rule 6 Party’.

A Rule 6 Party, is afforded similar status and rights, as the defending LPA in any Inquiry, which is an important point, particularly where the LPA is defending a Committee decision that has over turned or rejected an Officers recommendation to approve, as is the case here.

TFAG will be responsible for managing the processes for the Rule 6 Party as a whole, and for liaising with the 3 Councils.

We have been formally accepted as a ‘Rule 6 Party’ by the Government PINS Office responsible for Planning Appeal Inquiries, and there is now an initial timetable set for the Inquiry as below.

Key dates are:

Statement of Case due 24 November 2025 – changed to 8 December requested by SODC

Online Case Management Conference 10 December 2025

Evidence Proofs due 4 weeks before opening of Hearing

Hearing to start 24 March 2026

Hearing currently listed for 8 days

Location, possible split in hearing locations – TBA

Posted by: David Pheasant | 17/11/2025 4:18 pm

Thanks, Peter. Do you know why somewhere more local to Shiplake wasn't chosen?

Posted by: David Bartholomew | 08/01/2026 8:59 am

The last available information from SODC at the CMC was: 

Week 1 The Great Hall, Fairmile, Cholsey, Wallingford OX10 9GW

Week 2 Fountain Conference Centre, Howbery Park, Wallingford OX10 8BA

The inspector has directed that the parties should clear a further few days in their diaries in case the time allocated over runs, and in such circumstances his preference would be further time online, particularly if the venue was not available and or matters had reached a point where  it was summing up that remained outstanding. But basically  all subject to further information  as things became clearer.

Unfortunately our broadband is down due to a damaged fibre optic cable so not sure when I will be fully operational as Zzoomm need to run a new 75m cable to us following engineers visit today.

Posted by: Peter Boros | 31/12/2025 6:50 pm

Any update on the location?

Posted by: David Bartholomew | 31/12/2025 7:55 am