Local plan

1 Introduction
2 Plan making policies and plan-making framework
3 PM2: Local plans
4 Previously published detail
5 Stages in a local plan
6 Progress and reform
7 Related articles on Designing Buildings
8 External references

[edit] Introduction

The national planning policy framework (nppf) published in December 2025 defines a local plan in short as:

" A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community."

Which differs from the earlier short definition:

'A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community, under the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.'

[edit] Plan making policies and plan-making framework

The objectives of plan-making policies and framework are to "create a system which is genuinely plan led, through plan-making authorities5 prioritising the preparation and updating of the plans for which they are responsible. The preparation of development plans allows people to influence development in their area, including directing growth to the most appropriate and sustainable locations, supporting regeneration and conserving and enhancing the quality of the built and natural environment. The required parts of the development plan are:

a. A spatial development strategy, produced by strategic planning authorities and the Mayor of London;
b. A local plan produced by a local planning authority;
c. A minerals and waste plan produced by a minerals and waste planning authority; and
d. A policies map, prepared and maintained by a local planning authority, illustrating policies across all parts of the development plan.

It may additionally include:

e. Supplementary plans, produced by local planning authorities, minerals and waste planning authorities and the Mayor of London; and
f. Neighbourhood plans, produced by parish councils and neighbourhood forums.

The different parts of the development plan each have a discrete purpose and are expected to deal positively with particular issues, as set out in the relevant legislation and national policies, including the policies in the NPPF.

[edit] PM2: Local plans

"1. Local plans should set out a positive vision and spatial strategy, which supports the delivery of the spatial development strategy for their area, and should set out specific proposals for accommodating development needs and improving the environment at a local level. They should do this by:

a. Setting out a vision for the plan area, supported by no more than ten measurable outcomes, which:
- i. articulates how the area should change over the plan period;
- ii. sets aspirational aims and objectives underpinned by a realistic appreciation of what the plan’s policies can genuinely shape and deliver;
- iii. reflects longer term expectations extending beyond the plan period where appropriate, including for large scale development proposals; and
- iv. has particular regard to meeting the identified development needs of the area in a sustainable manner in accordance with policy S1.
b. Setting out a spatial strategy, policies for the minimum amount of development to be provided, land allocations7 and broad locations for growth, and designations in accordance with policy S2, for a period of no less than 15 years from the point of adoption of the plan;
c. Identifying the contributions expected from development towards meeting affordable housing requirements and on-and off-site infrastructure necessary to support delivery of the plan in accordance with policy PM12; and,
d. Setting out other policies, accompanied by concise explanatory text as necessary to aid interpretation, only where these support the delivery of specific allocated sites (to set clear expectations of what is required in terms of layout, infrastructure and design); or where these address particular local issues in accordance with policy PM6.

2. Local plans should be prepared and adopted within 30 months of publishing a Gateway 1 self-assessment.

3. Commencement of the preparation of the next local plan must be no later than 5 years after adoption of the current plan9, but should be prepared earlier where:

a. an Inspector at examination of the current plan has made a recommendation to prepare a new plan earlier; or
b. there has been a significant change in local circumstances, including where an area’s housing requirement has significantly increased following the adoption of a spatial development strategy.

4. The Secretary of State has powers to intervene in plans, including when a local planning authority fails to make adequate progress with plan-making.

5. Joint local plans prepared by two or more local planning authorities should be considered where this would enable local planning matters to be dealt with most effectively."

[edit] Previously published detail

Local plans are prepared by one or more district planning authorities (local planning authorities responsible for district matters). They set out a framework for the future development of an area on a 15-year horizon. They define: the priorities for an area, strategic policies, the framework for neighbourhood plans, land allocations, infrastructure requirements, housing needs, requirements for safeguarding the environment, measures for adapting to climate change, and so on. These policies should be illustrated geographically on a policies map.

Local plans are also the starting-point for considering whether planning applications should be approved.

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 set out matters that should be considered when preparing a local plan and prescribe their form and content. The National Planning Policy Framework describes the evidence that should be gathered in the preparation of local plans and the approach that they should adopt (Paras 150 – 185).

Every local plan must be accompanied by a ‘sustainability appraisal’, and if the plan is thought likely to impact on certain habitats or species it may also require a ‘habitats regulation assessment’.

There is a duty to cooperate with neighbouring authorities and certain other public bodies in the preparation of a local plan, and community and statutory consultation is required. In addition, a draft must be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for examination. See Test of soundness for more information.

Local planning authorities are required to have an up to date local plan. They must also prepare a ‘local development scheme’ that (amongst other things) sets out a timetable for reviewing the local plan to ensure it remains up to date. What constitutes ‘up to date’ will depend to some extent on the nature of the local area, but local plans are likely to be updated, at least in part, every five years.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that If a plan is absent, silent or out of date, permission for planning applications should be granted, unless there are significant and demonstrable reasons not to grant permission.

[edit] Stages in a local plan

This image is from ‘Plain English guide to the Planning System’ published by the Department for Communities and Local Government in January 2015. It is made available under the Open Government Licence.

[edit] Progress and reform

Local authorities were given a 12-month transition period to ensure that existing plans conformed with the NPPF, however:

When the transition period came to an end in March 2013, only half of local authorities had adopted local plans in place and the Planning Inspectorate revealed that only 7% of those local plans complied with the requirements of the NPPF (ref. Planning: 7% of plans ruled in line with NPPF. 23 March 2013).
By December 2013, 76% of councils had published a local plan (ref. Gov.uk Simplified planning to speed up delivery of new homes and support local jobs) but only 55% had an adopted plan in place.
In December 2014, Planning Minister Brandon Lewis stated; “Now 80% of authorities have published a local plan compared with 32% back in 2010 and 60% of councils now have adopted local plans compared with just 17% when the Government came to power.” (Ref. Hansard.)
In March 2015, a report by Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners found that local authority progress with local plans over the last three years had been marginal, with only a quarter having a compliant, up-to-date, adopted plan

In January 2014, then planning Minister Nick Boles suggested that new guidance would be issued to the effect that planning applications that might undermine a local plan could be refused if the local plan has been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate but had not yet been approved.

In February 2014, The Planning Officers Society suggested that the duty to co-operate between local planning authorities was causing too many local plans to fail and should be restricted to the strategic stage (Ref. PLANNING FOR A BETTER FUTURE Our planning manifesto for the next government).

In July 2015, a letter from Communities Secretary Greg Clark to the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate Simon Ridley said:

“We have recently seen significant positive plan-making progress: 82% of authorities have now published local plans and 64% adopted plans compared with 32 and 17% in May 2010 respectively. However, a written Commons statement made at the same time by Planning Minister Brandon Lewis made clear that where local authorities failed to produce a local plan by early 2017, “we will intervene to arrange for the plan to be written, in consultation with local people.”

In September 2015, Planning Minister Brandon Lewis launched a new panel to look at ways of streamlining the local plan-making process. The panel is due to report in early 2016. For more information see: Expert panel to streamline local plan-making process.

On 15 September 2015, Brandon Lewis MP, Minister for Housing and Planning launched an expert group to consider measures and reforms that could ensure local plans are produced efficiently and effectively. See Local plans expert group for more information.

In March 2016, the Local Plans Expert Group published LOCAL PLANS, Report to the Communities Secretary and to the Minister of Housing and Planning, which set out proposals to speed up and simplify the process of making local plans. A consultation was opened on the proposals, with representations required by 27 April 2016.

In April 2017, research by planning consultancy Lichfields found that 43% of local authorities had yet to publish even a draft local plan.