Create or update a local plan using the new system
Information and resources for local planning authorities on preparing a local plan under the new plan-making system.
About this collection
This collection brings together guidance and resources for local planning authorities (LPAs) preparing a local plan under the new plan-making system.
The new plan-making system covers plans prepared and adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, as amended by the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023.
The term ‘new plan-making system’ includes:
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the changes to the primary legislative framework, set out in the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act (LURA) 2023
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the detailed procedures for local plans, minerals and waste plans, and supplementary plans set out in secondary legislation
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the policy changes set out in the revised draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
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the guidance in this collection
For plans under the legacy plan-making system
If you are submitting your plan under the legacy system, use the create or update a local plan using the legacy system guidance.
The legacy system covers plans to be adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, (excluding the amendments made by the LURA), and The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.
Using this guidance
This is draft guidance and may change.
We will review this guidance and make any necessary revisions and updates as the new system is implemented and related policy is confirmed.
This guidance covers the first steps in preparing a plan under the new system, along with other parts of the plan-making process. It will eventually cover the full process of the new plan-making system.
We’ve published this guidance to let you see the upcoming changes to the new plan-making system and help you begin your new local plan immediately.
Find out when this guidance changes
Get notified when this page changes by selecting the ‘Get emails about this page’ button at the top of this page.
Provide feedback on this guidance
You can give feedback in our form to help shape and inform the final version of this guidance.
This is not a formal consultation.
New plan-making regulations and policy
On 27 November 2025 a written ministerial statement was made about reforming local plan making and an explanation of the new regulations was published.
On 4 March 2026, a package of regulations to implement the new system was published and are now in force from 25 March 2026.
These include The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.
A detailed explanation of the content of package of regulations published on 4 March is set out in the combined Explanatory Memorandum.
Revising national plan-making policy
We’re writing clearer national planning policies for local plans that are being prepared in the new system, alongside new national policies for decision making.
A revised version of the NPPF was published for consultation on 16 December 2025. We will respond and publish an update once the consultation has been concluded and the necessary analysis of responses completed, which we anticipate completing in the summer of 2026.
If you are preparing a plan in the new system, you should have regard to the consultation draft of the NPPF, to help inform the early stages of preparation of your local plan.
Other resources to use alongside this collection
Check and provide your planning data
To meet the approved data standard, use the check and provide service to help prepare, check and provide data about your plan.
Providing data will make your plan available on the national map and the national list of local plans. This means that we will have one place where anyone can:
- check how plan-making is progressing across England
- see how many homes each area is planning for
Get support with different aspects of plan-making
Get support with local plans from the Planning Advisory Service.
Read case studies on how local planning authorities have used digital technology for various aspects of plan-making.
About the new plan-making system
Information on the new plan-making system and its rollout, with a roadmap setting out when guidance and tools will become available.
Getting ready to start a local plan
How local planning authorities can prepare to start a plan under the new system.
Passing through Gateway 1
How to self-assess your readiness to start the 30-month plan preparation process.
Publishing your plan data
How to follow the approved data standards to publish your plan dataset, plan timetable dataset and housing requirement data.
Engaging stakeholders and communities
How to carry out consultations, define your community engagement strategy and make documents available for public inspection.
Setting your vision and strategy
What you should consider and how to prepare the vision and strategy for your local plan.
Selecting sites for development
Understand the process of identifying, assessing and selecting sites for allocation in a local plan.
Passing through Gateways 2 and 3
How to check your progress with the Planning Inspectorate and make sure your local plan is ready to submit for examination.
Updates to this page
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Two new guidance pages have been published. These focus on what LPAs need to do to pass through Gateways 2 and 3. The way we group the documents in the collection has also been improved, so that the headings and summaries correspond to tasks in the 30-month plan preparation process.
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Added a link to the check and provide service. We have also removed 'plan and plan timetable template' from the collection.
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Updated to include guidance on: Engaging the public when preparing a local plan, Issue a requirement to assist notice, Making your local plan documents publicly available, Plan and plan timetable template, Publishing your local plan housing requirement, Publish your plan data.
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The page has been updated to incorporate the regulations which are now in force from 25 March 2026. Callout box at the top of the page has been updated to 'We will review this guidance and make any necessary revisions and updates as the new system is implemented and related policy is confirmed.' Under the heading ‘Provide feedback on this guidance’ the email address has been removed and replaced by a link to a feedback form.
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First published.