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Guidance

Procedure Guide for Local Plan Examinations (legacy system)

Guide aimed at all those involved in the process and concerned with the procedural aspects of examining a local plan.

Updates to this page

From:
Planning Inspectorate
Published:
13 May 2014
Last updated:
20 August 2026
Show all updates

  1. Minor edit with additional information on Programme Officer appointments

  2. (legacy system) added to the title

  3. Update reflects recent legislative changes in relation to the duty to cooperate along with other minor updates.

  4. Added information about the new plan-making system.

  5. Update to to reflect the new pre-examination checklist

  6. Changes to reflect the Minister’s Letter; Amending ‘DLUHC’ to ‘MHCLG’; Inclusion of guidance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the production of hearing statements; Updates to invoicing procedures to reflect the current service level agreement; Correction of minor typographical errors.

  7. Guidance updated around the setting up and running of events.

  8. Linking off to new guide: Local plans: taking part in examinations

  9. MHCLG to DLUHC

  10. Link to Privacy policy updated

  11. This sixth edition has been updated to take account of recent experience of examinations and the advisory visits which Inspectors make to local planning authorities LPAs.

  12. Please note that the Procedure Guide pre-dates measures to limit the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) and it may not currently be possible to follow some of the advice it contains.

  13. Booklet updated

  14. Guide updated to take account of more recent refinements in practice and the update to the Planning Practice Guidance published on 19 May 2016

  15. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Procedure Guide for Local Plan Examinations

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Details

For plans under the new plan-making system 

If you are submitting your plan under the new system, use the create or update a local plan new system guidance. 

The new plan-making system covers plans that will be prepared and amended under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, as modified by the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

This guide includes advice on:

  • Glossary of abbreviations
  • Introduction
  • Overview of the examination
  • Section 1: Before submission
  • Section 2: Submission
  • Section 3: Initial assessment and organisation of the hearing sessions
  • Section 4: Preparation for the hearing sessions
  • Section 5: Conduct of the hearing sessions
  • Section 6: Main modifications to the plan
  • Section 7: The Inspector’s report
  • Section 8: Quality assurance, fact-check procedure and delivery of final report to the LPA
  • Section 9: Other procedures and matters
  • Technical seminars and meetings
  • Formal presentation of evidence and cross-examination
  • Pre-hearing meetings
  • Conduct of all parties during the examination

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