Information about the Next Local Plan 2026-2044 and plan making system
What is the Next Local Plan?
The Government launched the new plan-making system on 25 March 2026. This was introduced through the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023, which came into force following publication of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.
The Government had already written to us in January 2026, informing us that we were part of the first tranche of local authorities to prepare a Borough local plan under the new system. The 2026 Regulations set out detailed requirements for the process of preparing the next local plan. Each stage in the process is shown below.
Local Plan stages
Notice of Intention (June 2026)
- Regulation 19
- The Notice of Intention represents the formal/legal statement that the Council is due to start preparing a new local plan.
Local Plan Timetable
- Regulation 4
- Please note that where precise dates are currently unknown the first of the month is set out, and specific dates will be added once known through future updates to the timetable.
Scoping Consultation (September 2026)
- Regulation 20
- Information regarding the Scoping Consultation; the preliminary consultation stage in preparing the next local plan.
Self-assessment (Gateway 1, October 2026)
- Regulation 23
- Information regarding the self-assessment process, which follows the Scoping Consultation and ensure that we have met all the legal requirements before we pass Gateway 1 (the stage at which the 30-months local plan timetable starts.
Evidence and content consultation (Spring 2027)
- Regulation 23
- Information regarding the second consultation stage in the process. This stage sets out the direction of travel (initial draft proposals) for the local plan and the public to consider the supporting evidence base.
Observations and advice from appointed Planning Inspector (Gateway 2, Autumn 2027)
- Regulation 26
- Information regarding the first external review of plan-making progress, the evidence base and consultation feedback, undertaken by an independently appointed Planning Inspector.
Pre-submission (proposed) local plan consultation (Spring 2028)
- Regulation 27
- Information regarding the third consultation stage. This is the final consultation on the proposed local plan, the version that the Council proposes to submit to the Secretary of State.
Initial assessment of proposed local plan by appointed Planning Inspector and submission to Secretary of State (Gateway 3, Autumn 2028)
- Regulations 31, 32 and 34
- Information regarding the assessment of the proposed local plan in advance of submission to the Secretary of State.
Independent examination (Autumn 2028 to Spring 2029)
- Regulation 35
- Information regarding the independent examination for the local plan, undertaken by the appointed Planning Inspector.