Planning Inspectorate introduces checklist to streamline local plan examinations
The Planning Inspectorate will introduce a pre-examination checklist for local plans from 6 October 2025. The checklist is designed to ensure plans are ready for examination, resulting in a more efficient process for both local planning authorities and the Inspectorate whilst maintaining examination quality.
Purpose of the pre-examination checklist
The Planning Inspectorate examines local plans on behalf of the Secretary of State to ensure they meet legal requirements and tests of soundness before adoption.
The pre-examination checklist will form part of that responsibility and will allow local planning authorities and the Inspectorate to check whether a plan is "ready for examination" before submission of the plan. This aims to minimise the risk of local planning authorities, interested parties, and the Planning Inspectorate participating in examinations that take a significant amount of time and resources but ultimately result in a conclusion that the plan cannot be found sound or legally compliant.
The checklist will require local planning authorities to ensure they have provided examining inspectors with comprehensive, accessible information relating to legal compliance, plan content and available evidence.
How the process works
Local planning authorities will be requested to complete the checklist and send it to the Planning Inspectorate before their plan is submitted. The information provided will help the Planning Inspectorate assess if:
all necessary practical arrangements are in place
essential evidence and other documents are ready for submission; and
the rationale for the plan content is clear.
To ensure the process remains as efficient as possible, the Inspectorate will aim to respond within 10 working days of receiving a completed checklist. If deemed ready for examination, the local planning authority will be invited to submit its plan immediately. If the Planning Inspectorate's assessment of the checklist suggests the plan may not be ready for examination, the local planning authority will be provided with recommended actions to address identified shortcomings.
The checklist and Inspectorate's response will be made available on the examination website along with the plan and all other submission documents to maintain transparency for all.
Further detail on this change can be found in the Procedure Guide and related documents.
