Local Plan timetable
What is happening now
The submission local plan is being examined by the inspector.
What's next
The adoption of the plan is next as long as the planning inspector deems it to be sound.
① Gathering of evidence
The council commissions a range of detailed studies and engages with a range of key stakeholders, and considers everything a Local Plan needs, such as how many new homes and jobs are needed and what supporting infrastructure is required. This helps to inform the draft Local Plan.
A call for sites was undertaken in 2021.
② Consultation (Regulation 18)
The draft Local Plan proposals are presented to the public for consultation. This is known as the Regulation 18 stage and it is the point at which the council invites comments on the proposals.
This is an important stage in the process as the consultation responses can help to inform the next stage of preparing the plan in 2024.
The consultation took place in December 2023 and involved a number of drops in exhibitions with the public.
③ Review of comments
The council reviews the comments made during the Regulation 18 consultation, updates the evidence, engages with key stakeholders again.
④ Publication version
After careful consideration, the Publication Version is published, and the council will ask for representations to be submitted on its soundness, legal compliance and its compliance with the duty to cooperate.
This consultation took place in August 2024, then following this the Regulation 19 'Submission' Draft was submitted on 18 December 2024 to the Planning Inspectorate along with all consultation responses received from stakeholders at this stage.
⑤ Examination - We are here
The Secretary of State appoints an independent Planning Inspector to examine the Local Plan in great detail. Public hearing sessions are held during this stage.
Details of the Local Plan Examination are available on our examination page.
⑥ Adoption of the Local Plan
The Planning Inspector's final report recommends whether the council can adopt the plan. Once adopted, the Local Plan will be used to make decisions on all planning applications.
This is expected in approximately spring of 2026, although the timing of the examination is in the hands of the Planning Inspector. The average Local Plan examination is 18 months for plans with no significant issues identified.
Local Development Scheme
The Local Development Scheme sets out the important dates when decisions will be made and when documents will be published for the preparation of the Local Plan.
Editions
17. Current - approved by the council's Cabinet on 16 October 2023 | |
16. Previous - approved by the council's Cabinet on 20 October 2022 |
The most recent Local Plan update was provided to The Local Plan Leadership Group at a meeting on 26 July. The Local Plan Leadership Group has since been superseded by the Local Plan Panel
Local Plan intervention: Secretary of State letter to Uttlesford District Council
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, wrote to Uttlesford District Council in December 2023 directing us to revise our local plan timetable.
Cllr Petrina Lees, Leader of Uttlesford District Council, has now responded to the Secretary of State's letter.
Documents
Letter from Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (PDF, 146 KB)
Response from Leader of Uttlesford District Council (PDF, 592 KB)
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