In his Written Ministerial Statement on 19th December 2023, Michael Gove directed seven Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to publish a plan timetable within 12 weeks. He also said that he expected all local planning authorities to make sure that they have an up-to-date plan timetable in place within the same timeframe and to provide a copy to his department. Many councils have been in touch with us to ask what this actually means for them, so we have set out here what we think this means in practice for LPAs.
Local Plans Update: Michael Gove’s December 2023 Written Ministerial Statement, plan making timetables, updated NPPF.
What are LPAs being asked to do?
In his Written Ministerial Statement on 19th December 2023, Michael Gove directed seven Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to publish a plan timetable within 12 weeks. One of the main reasons that the seven named councils were specifically directed by the Secretary of State (SoS) is because they have not submitted a plan for examination since 2004. When asking for ‘an up to date plan timetable’, the SoS is referring to an LPAs Local Development Scheme (LDS). The SoS is using his powers under Section 15 (8)(b) of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 to direct the seven LPAs to revise their Local Development Scheme (LDS).
The Government sees the December 2023 update to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as providing more certainty and adding responsibility on local planning authorities to deliver a local plan. As part of this, in his statement, the Secretary of State also said: “I expect other authorities to make sure that they have a timetable for an up-to-date plan in place… (and to provide his department with a copy) within the same timeframe” (12-week period) as the 7 named LPAs.
While the situation is quite clear for the 7 named LPAs (DLUHC has been in touch directly with them to spell out what the SoS expects), many councils have been in touch with us to ask what this actually means for them. The Planning Advisory Service (PAS) believes that all LPAs are being asked to:
- Review their LDS so that it:
- reflects the most up to date timetable for producing their local plan and
- takes account of any implications of the revised NPPF on the plan timetable.
- Where the LDS required updating, to publish the updated version on their website.
- Send a copy of the updated/up-to-date LDS to the SoS within 12 weeks of his WMS.
- The updated / up-to-date LDS should be sent to the SoS’s department using the email address: [email protected]
Good Practice for keeping the Local Development Scheme (LDS) up to date.
Section 15(1) of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act requires LPAs to prepare and maintain an LDS. Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) states that: “The Local Development Scheme must be made available publicly and kept up-to-date. It is important that local communities and interested parties can keep track of progress. Local planning authorities should publish their Local Development Scheme on their website.”
The latest NPPF (December 2023) contained many changes and updates. It is good practice for all LPAs to review their LDS and take account of any implications of the revised NPPF on the plan timetable Updated local development schemes should be published on council’s websites and a copy sent direct to DLUHC by email to: [email protected]