The Planning Inspectorate has published a new guide for local plan examinations
The new local plan procedure guide is intended to support Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to work through planning examinations more easily.
The guide covers procedures and information on the gateway assessments and examination process in the updated planning system.
The new local plan system came into force in March
Consisting of the new Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, the new system introduces a structured gateway process to encourage earlier engagement in delivering the expected 30-month end-to-end plan-making process.
Local authorities engaging with the new local plan system are encouraged to head to the Create or Update a Local Plan (CULP) page which contains resources for plan making.
On 6 July, a live webinar and Q&A titled Plan, Prepare, Progress: A practical guide to the new local plan system, will be held to address concerns and provide a walkthrough of the guide.
Andrew Megginson, head of plans examination for the planning Inspectorate, said: “We are ready to support local planning authorities as they begin working under the new local plan system, and this guide is an important step in setting out how we will work with them through gateways and examinations. This is a first edition – we will continue to develop and refine the guidance as the system beds in and as we gain experience of how it works in practice. We are committed to working closely with MHCLG and the wider planning community to make this new system a success.”
The full procedure guide is available here.
Reactions to the new NPPF mostly positive
In March, the consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework closed, and several industry-leading organisations shared their thoughts.
The Local Government Association (LGA) called for several things in its response, including taking action to improve cooperation with the housebuilding industry, re-think ‘punitive measures’, and not to discount the importance of tailor-made approaches for different areas and communities.
Cllr Tom Hunt, chair of the LGA’s Inclusive Growth Committee, said: “These proposals represent a huge shake up to planning policy and we recognise the Government’s pledge to deliver more homes, better integrated with infrastructure and connected to jobs and amenities. However, to succeed, local government and its views must remain at the heart of planning and delivery.
“Planning is about shaping the future, creating places and communities that work, building homes, linking with economic activity and public services, conserving and improving the natural and built environment, and ensuring the right decisions are made on issues that matter to residents. Councils must retain the ability to tailor decision-making processes and policies to reflect the specific needs and ambitions of their communities. The involvement of councillors, as the elected representatives of local people, in planning decisions is the backbone of the English planning system.
“Councils need to be given the powers to ensure sites with planning permission are built out promptly, because our residents and communities do not and cannot live in planning permissions”
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