Government Sets Out Next Steps For New Local Plan System

Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook has provided an update on the government’s reforms to the local plan-making system in England, confirming key legislative, funding and timetable measures intended to accelerate the delivery of up-to-date local plans across all areas.

In a written statement to Parliament, the Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving universal coverage of adopted local plans, describing the current level of plan coverage as “problematic” and a barrier to delivering the 1.5 million homes pledged in this Parliament. He emphasised that local plans must remain the foundation of the planning system, giving communities a meaningful role in shaping development and helping prevent speculative applications in the absence of clear policy.

New Regulations Coming Early Next Year

The Minister confirmed that the government will shortly lay the regulations required to implement the new plan-making system, reflecting responses to earlier consultations and engagement with the sector. These regulations will set out a simplified, streamlined process with defined steps intended to support faster plan preparation and more frequent updates.

A summary of what the regulations will contain has been published to allow local authorities and stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the changes ahead of commencement in early 2026.

Roll-Out: No ‘Waves’, Earlier Starts Encouraged

In a significant shift from earlier proposals, the government will not phase in the new system via plan-making “waves”. Instead, all local planning authorities will be encouraged to start work under the new system as soon as regulations commence.

However, statutory ‘backstop’ dates will apply:

• Authorities using the NPPF transitional arrangements must commence formal plan-making (Gateway 1) by 31 October 2026.
• Authorities with plans over five years old must commence by 30 April 2027.

The Minister also confirmed a minimum of £14 million in funding this financial year to support early adopters and help authorities prepare ambitious plans quickly, with further details to follow.

Guidance, Tools And Digital Support

Alongside the statement, the government has published draft guidance and early-stage tools to help plan-makers understand and prepare for the new system. These resources build on the “Create or Update a Local Plan” hub launched in February 2025 and will be supplemented by further tools and templates from the Planning Advisory Service.

This digital offer is intended to help authorities move more rapidly through the early phases of plan-making once the new system takes effect.

Plan-Making Under The Current System

It was stressed that local authorities should continue progressing plans under the existing framework ahead of the transition. The final date for submitting such plans for examination will be 31 December 2026.

Under the revised NPPF (December 2024), plans that reached Regulation 19 by 12 March 2025 but meet less than 80% of local housing need must be updated and submitted by 12 June 2026, unless this triggers a return to Regulation 18 in which case the deadline is 31 December 2026.

The Minister reaffirmed that the government is prepared to use intervention powers, including taking over a local authority’s plan-making directly, if progress stalls.

Ending The Duty To Cooperate

The Minister confirmed that the Duty to Cooperate introduced in 2011 will not be saved during the transition period.

Although the new system removes the Duty, authorities are still expected to collaborate across boundaries, including on unmet housing needs, and Planning Inspectors will continue to assess plans against NPPF policies requiring “effective co-operation”.

The Planning Inspectorate has been instructed to ensure this position is clearly communicated to Local Plan Inspectors.

Read the full statement here