Under the new local plan system, we are required to publish a local plan timetable and keep it up to date. We are at the start of the new local plan process, so the timetable may change as we progress; we must consider, for example, the public comments that we receive during the consultations and the comments made by the planning inspectors at the gateway assessments which may affect the timetable. We will keep the timetable up-to-date and future versions will be published on this page.
The timetable is outlined below.
Timetable published 30 June 2026.
Publish notice of intention to commence local plan preparation
When: 30 June 2026
The notice is a new requirement which is intended to give local people and stakeholders advance notice that we are beginning to prepare our new local plan. View the notice.
Scoping consultation
When: September to October 2026
The scoping consultation will ask local people and stakeholders what the key issues are for the district, what the local plan should contain and how we should engage with people in preparing the plan.
Gateway 1 assessment
When: October 2026
Gateway 1 is a self-assessment to check that we are ready to start preparing the new local plan. Once we complete this gateway, we will have 30 months to prepare the plan. We will then start to prepare the local plan vision and strategy and gather evidence to support the plan.
Consultation on proposed local plan content and evidence
When: September to October 2027
This consultation will set out the proposed vision, aims and objectives of the local plan and a summary of the policy topics the plan will cover. We will also publish a summary of the evidence that we are proposing to gather to support the plan. The consultation must be for a minimum of six weeks.
Following this consultation, we will start to draft the local plan, decide on the preferred spatial strategy and sites, gather evidence and prepare the local plan map.
Gateway 2 assessment
When: February 2028
Gateway 2 is a formal assessment by a planning inspector to provide us with feedback on the draft local plan and supporting evidence, to ensure that the local plan aligns with national policy requirements and we have met the steps set out in legislation.
Consultation on the proposed local plan
When: May 2028 to June 2028
If the local plan passes the gateway 2 assessment, we will draft the local plan and hold the third consultation. This consultation will be on the final version of the local plan, including the sites that are proposed for development, areas that will be identified for protection and enhancement and any local policies to guide development. The consultation must be for a minimum of eight weeks.
Following this consultation, we will make any final amendments to the local plan and get the plan and supporting evidence ready for the examination.
Gateway 3 assessment
When: September 2028
Gateway 3 is a formal assessment by a planning inspector to assess whether the local plan meets national policy and legal requirements and can move forward to the public examination.
Submission of the local plan for public examination
When: October 2028
If the local plan passes the gateway 3 assessment, we will then submit it for the public examination. The timetable for the public examination is determined by the planning inspectors who are appointed to examine the plan, but under the new system the examination is expected to last no more than six months – this would see the examination finishing in March 2029.
Adoption of the local plan
When: April 2029
If the inspectors’ report says that the local plan is ‘sound’ and meets the tests set out in national policy and legislation, we will then adopt the local plan, and it can be used to make decisions on planning applications.