What is the closing date for each of the funds?
A: The expression of interest application window is open for both funds for two weeks. The deadline to submit an Expression of Interest is 5pm on Wednesday 28th of January 2026.
When and how will we be paid?
A: Funding will be provided via Section 31 Local Government Act powers and will be non-ringfenced. Successful local authorities will be notified that they will receive funding on or around 13 March 2026, and payments will be made on or around 28 March 2026.
When does all the funding need to be spent?
A: This funding is for issuing in this financial year 25/26. MHCLG expects funded councils to have proposals in place by the end of the financial year 2025/26 for how they will commit the grant funding, rather than having spent it. Local authorities will need to confirm that the section 151 officer, or deputy section 151 officer, supports the expression of interest.
When and how will the funding monitored, is there a formal procedure?
A: The fund will primarily be monitored through ongoing engagement between MHCLG and local authorities, alongside monitoring of progress against local plan milestones set out in LDSs and local plan timetables. Successful authorities may be asked for feedback on whether the funding was able to achieve its stated aims and to inform the design of any future funding if available.
Will further funding be available to support authorities with plan-making in future years?
A: At the current time funding is only available for eligible local authorities this financial year. However, the government is committed to supporting authorities with their plan-making and if further funding for future financial years it will be made available at the earliest opportunity.
Can I apply for this funding if the authority has already received regulation 18/19 funding for the plan?
A: Yes, provided the authority meets all the eligibility criteria. This is a separate round of funding.
What type of plans are eligible to apply for funding?
A: Plans that allocated land for development are eligible to apply for the funding. This means certain types of plans are not eligible such as those that do not allocate land for development such as some minerals or waste plans, or development management policy plans.
Who is eligible for current (legacy) system plan funding?
A: Legacy System Plan Funding is for authorities preparing plans (i.e. the ‘existing or ‘current’ system) to support authorities to get their plan to submission by 31 December 2026. Only authorities which meet all the eligibility criteria will be eligible.
What is the edibility criteria?
A: Local authorities will be eligible for this funding if they:
- are preparing a local plan in the current/legacy plan-making system which includes the identification of land for development,
- have already commenced or completed the final regulation 18 consultation, or will commence final regulation 18 consultation by the end of February 2026, based on the up-to-date Local Development Scheme,
- have not yet completed final regulation 19 consultation or submitted their plan to examination by the expression of interest deadline of 28 January; and
- have submitted an up-to-date Local Development Scheme to MHCLG by 7 January 2026 which indicates the local authority will submit the plan for examination by no later than 31 December 2026
This means authorities who have already completed the regulation 19 consultation or submitted the plan for examination are not eligible. It also means authorities who are planning a regulation 18 consultation to start after the end of February 2026 are not eligible either.
The government has written to all the authorities they consider eligible but encourage anyone who thinks they might be eligible to apply for the fundings explaining why.
Who is eligible for new system plan funding?
A: New System Plan Funding is for local authorities committed to bringing a plan forward early in the new plan-making system. This could include authorities required by regulation to commence early, or authorities who choose to commence early. The fund is to support authorities who will be the first to bring a plan forward in the new system. Only authorities which meet all the eligibility criteria will be eligible.
What are the eligibility criteria?
A:Local authorities will be eligible for this funding if they:
- will be preparing a plan in the new plan-making system,
- commit to publishing their notice of intention to commence local plan preparation by 30 June 2026, and
- commit to publishing their Gateway 1 self-assessment by 31 October 2026.
What if an authority commits to the dates in order to be eligible, and then cannot meet them due to delays to the regulations or specific circumstances?
A: The government are encouraging applications for New System Plan Funding from authorities who are either required or committed to bringing a plan forward early (by publishing their notice to commence plan-making by 30 June 2026 and publishing their Gateway 1 self-assessment by 31 October 2026). It is anticipated that the local plan regulations will be published early this year and the NPPF in the Summer, expressions of interest should be made on this basis.
Should authorities preparing a joint plan, submit one EOI or two?
A: Authorities should submit their expressions of interest individually and indicate name of the joint plan and which LPAs are part of the joint plan.
How long will the application form take?
A: The application form should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. The majority of the questions are multiple choice.
Can you see all the questions before completing the application form?
A: The majority of the questions posed are multiple choice. An explanation is required if you consider you authority eligible and have not received a letter to your CEO informing you of your eligibility. If you still require a copy of the questions in advance, you can email [email protected] for a copy. Please note all applications should be submitted online.
What additional documents need to be submitted with the EOI?
A: The expression of interest form has been designed to be simple and light touch, there are no mandatory documents needed in support of the expression of interest and wherever possible answers are multiple choice. When applying for legacy system funding, if your authority has not previously sent an up-to-date LDS to MHCLG, you can upload and submit one.