PAS & MHCLG are hosting a series of online webinars to provide structured briefings on the key changes in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published on 16 December 2024. These events include updates from senior officials at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Recordings, presentations and a FAQs from the series of sessions will be added once delivered and available here.
This series of online webinars focus on the key changes in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2024.
Here are the presentations and a series of FAQs from the series of webinars hosted in January and March 2025.
Materials will be added as the events are completed.
At this policy webinar we explore with Michael Bingham, Deputy Director for Planning Policy at the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), what the recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) changes mean and give an overview of the wider planning reform.
In this webinar the MHCLG Team set out the proposals for Local Plan transitional arrangements in the new NPPF, provide more information on LDS updates required by 6 March and outline funding opportunities for councils.
Updating Local Development Scheme FAQs
Why have MCLG asked all authorities to update timetable for plan making and what do I need to do?
Under the planning legislation (section 15 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended), Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) have a statutory obligation to produce a Local Development Scheme (LDS) and keep it up-to-date and publicly available. National Planning Practice Guidance (paragraph 035) explain a Local Development Scheme is expected to be reviewed and updated at least annually but may need updating more frequently if there are any significant changes in the timescales or the plans being prepared.
MHCLG has asked LPAs to review and update their LDS’s in light of the revised National Planning Policy Framework and transitional arrangements within 12 weeks of the publication of the NPPF, i.e. by no later than 6 March 2025. Once update the LDS must be made public and a copy sent to MHCLG by email. Where the expectation is that an update to a local plan will be published under the current plan making system, authorities are also expected to complete a form to indicate when they expect to consult under the Local Plan Regulations. You can find full details in the letter published by the Chief Planner on 13 December 2024.
Do I still need to review and update our LDS if we have recently adopted or are soon to adopt a plan?
Yes, advice from MHCLG is still a need for review against the new NPPF even if the plan adoption is recent or imminent. Legislation and guidance are clear that authorities must keep this LDS up to date and available.
Does my plan making timetable need to be under the current plan making system or the new one, provided for under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023?
Local Planning Authorities (LPAs), have until December 2026 submit a plan for examination under the current plan making system. (there are different provision timelines for local plans that reach Regulation 19 pre-submission stage on or before 12 March 2025 and are not returning to Regulation 18 as set out in NPPF 2024 paragraph 237).
The updated LDS should include clear, realistic, and have specific dates for consultation and submission of the local plan. Therefore, LPAs should only be setting a timetable and seeking to progress a plan under the current system if they are confident that they can consult on Regulation 18, publish under Regulation 19 and get to submission for examination stage by December 2026 i.e. just under 24 months.
Your authority may decide that your timetable for updating and reviewing your Local Plan is more likely to be under the new system. The NPPF indicates that provisions for the revised plan-making system, provided for under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act (LURA) 2023, will come into force in 2025. We expect further details in the earlier part of 2025. LURA 2023 still requires authorities to create a timetable for plan making with the details to follow in regulations.
We will update under the new plan making system, but how can I set a timetable if we do not yet know the details of how it will work?
The NPPF indicates that the provisions will come into place in 2025 and relate to the system provided for under the Levelling up and Regeneration Act 2023. The Secretary of State has also indicated the national policies for development management will be published for consultation in 2025.
Pending any further announcements and information from Government on these changes, the PAS team advises using the latest information in the public domain about the expected timeline for plan making under the new system. This was that set out in the July 2023 consultation on implementation of plan-making reforms.. Your plan making timetable can subsequently be updated, as and when required, to include relevant details of the new system when confirmed. In addition, you may want to say this in your LDS and add that this is an ‘interim’ timetable and will be subject to review when details of the new system are published.
The July 2023 timetable suggested the following plan making stages and broad timetable under the new plan making system.
Remember to build in sufficient preparation time before the clock starts ticking at month 1.
Give 4 months’ notice before starting plan making:
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A scoping and early participation stage – including requirements to “notify” the public and stakeholders including statutory bodies and “invite” participation; prepare or update the local plan or minerals and waste timetable; and give a minimum of four months’ notice before they intend to formally commence the 30-month plan preparation timeframe through to adoption.
Month 1 – 23
- Plan visioning and strategy development – including a requirement to undertake visioning about the future of the area and the first formal public consultation on the plan.
- Evidence gathering and drafting the plan.
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Engagement, proposing changes and submission of the plan – including a requirement for the second public consultation on the plan
Month 24 - 30
- Examination of the plan
- Adoption of the plan
Based on this your timetable could factor in the notification stage, and two formal stages of consultation – the first on plan visioning and strategy development and a second public consultation before the plan enters the final stages of preparation and examination. As outlined the examination is expected to be within the 30-month period.
Are updated timetables for Waste and Minerals Plans needed too?
No. The requirement to produce an updated LDS does not apply to councils who do not have planning policy responsibility for housing. Upper tier authorities whose plan making responsibilities relate solely to minerals and waste are not subject to this requirement.
The timeline to prepare and agree an LDS update are short – what do you suggest we do to meet them?
Councils should make all reasonable efforts to meet the deadline. If you genuinely cannot get your updated LDS through committees by 6 March then sending in the LDS timetable you are seeking approval of, explaining why you have not met the deadline and advising when the updated timetable will be approved and submitted would be a sensible starting point. (Councils are advised that is is not agreement to an extension by MHCLG).
What level of detail is needed for the dates in the LDS update?
Existing legislation, guidance, and data standards apply. MHCLG would greatly prefer to see milestones in a genuinely measurable format e.g. month and year rather than ‘Q3’ or ‘Autumn/Winter’.
Where should I email my LDS if not using Chief Planner’s Newsletter link?
In this webinar the MHCLG Team set out the changes to the standard method for local housing need, housing land supply and the housing delivery test in the new NPPF. This is the presentation used and the recording.
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At this March 2025 policy webinar for local authority councillors, we explore with Michael Bingham, Deputy Director for Planning Policy at the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), what the recent December 2024 changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) mean and give an overview of the wider planning reform.