Local Plans have to be widely consulted on, and there is a formal process of consultation and examination that all Local Plans need to go through, with fixed deadlines. There are many stages of Local Plan making, with different opportunities to have your say throughout. These are summarised below but for more detailed information see: when should you get involved in Local Plans?
Local planning authorities (LPAs) are required by law to publish a Statement of Community Involvement making clear how they will consult with the general public, and which groups they will be consulting specifically. It should say how they plan to inform and consult people – from adverts in local papers to holding public meetings or other digital methods of engagement.
Generally speaking, the preparation of a local plan document follows a number of stages:
- Evidence gathering and public participation
An LPA starts the process of developing the Local Plan with evidence gathering – where they collect and prepare relevant reports and studies on planning issues for example on levels of housing need and land availability. The evidence gathered is used to assess and identify issues and options on how to address the needs of the area.
During the evidence gathering stage members of the public, businesses and other interested parties are consulted and can give their views on the issues important to them and their local area.
- Pre-submission publication stage
The LPA considers all the comments received during the early engagement stage. From this, it will develop a draft Local Plan document (known as the pre-submission document) which is then published for consultation. For more information see: how do you submit formal representations?
After the consultation, the LPA has a chance to make changes to the draft document and may decide to carry out additional consultation if the changes are significant.
- Submission of document and Local Plan Examination
The submission draft document along with a summary of the main issues raised in the consultation at the pre-submission stage are submitted to the independent Planning Inspectorate for ‘Examination’ – this involves assessing whether the document preparation and consultation procedures meet the necessary legal and policy tests and whether it is ‘sound’. For more information see: how are Local Plans examined?
After carrying out the Examination, the Planning Inspector may make suggestions for how the Local Plan should be changed. It is up to the local authority whether or not it makes these changes, but it is likely to agree the changes and adopt the plan. Alternatively, the Inspector may recommend that the Plan is not adopted, a recommendation that the Council has to abide by.
What happens after a Local Plan is agreed?
Local Plans are intended to be long term – typically to cover a 15- year period. However, either the whole or part of Local Plans can (and should) be reviewed to respond to changes. If this happens, they must again be open to public consultation. LPAs must also publish an Authorities’ Monitoring Report each year on progress made on developing and implementing the Local Plan. The whole process of local plan making normally takes three years from start to finish.