This support provides Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) with an assessment of the suitability and effectiveness of the project programme, project plan, and resources they have in place for delivering the production/review/update of their Local Plan. The aim of the support is to keep the project management of the Local Plan on track. Support includes an appraisal/assessment of the:
- achievability of the schedule/timeline/LDS level of project and programme sponsorship
- key tasks and milestones identified for the main work packages
- specific risks to the timetable and how these can be managed and mitigated
- Governance and reporting arrangements
Many councils are on track to submit their Local Plans by 31st December 2026 in the current plan making system. We are providing a critical friend appraisal of the scope, suitability, effectiveness and overall holistic view of whether the plan being prepared is ready for the critical Regulation 19 Publication stage. This includes reviewing the overall approach to scoping, interpreting and sequencing the evidence base. Plus reviewing and providing advice on specialist topics, such as cross boundary co-operation or key matters for the examination of the plan.
Once the publication stage (Regulation 19) of plan making is over, Local Plan teams need to get ready for submission and examination. Support includes an assessment of how ready each council and their local plan is. The support includes advice, via a surgery style format with key specialists, to analysis and provide advice on the key issues for the plan as it heads into examination. This support can also include training for local plan teams on preparing for a smooth examination.
The local plan system is going through changes, with the current system setting a deadline of submission of plans by December 2026 and more details on an emerging new system expected later this year. Your members should be regularly trained on key elements of the current and emerging local plan systems and how your local plan is enabling the councils’ priorities and place based projects.
It is predicted that nearly a third of all councils are preparing plans in the current system and getting ready for submission and then examination within the next eighteen months. Many teams have yet to experience examination and are likely to need some training in the run up.
We have designed a suite of presentations to cover member and officer training on local plans. You can learn more about our training offer on our Local Plan Training Webpage.
