The Planning Inspectorate has published its procedure guide for local plan examinations under the new local plan system.
This initial edition of the guide supports local planning authorities (LPAs) and others involved in plan preparation and examination. It offers practical guidance, procedure and information and covers the gateway assessments and the examination process in detail.
The new local plan system, developed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and with specialist input from the Planning Inspectorate, came into force in March 2026 with the new Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, replacing the existing 2012 plan making regulations. It introduced a structured gateway process designed to support earlier engagement and help deliver the government's expectation of a 30-month end-to-end plan-making process.
Local authorities working under the new local plan system are encouraged to visit Create or Update a Local Plan (CULP), which is the central resource for plan-making guidance and complements this procedural guide.
Andrew Megginson, Head of Plans Examination for the planning Inspectorate said:
We are ready to support local planning authorities as they begin working under the new local plan system, and this guide is an important step in setting out how we will work with them through gateways and examinations. This is a first edition - we will continue to develop and refine the guidance as the system beds in and as we gain experience of how it works in practice. We are committed to working closely with MHCLG and the wider planning community to make this new system a success.
The procedure guide is available on the Planning Inspectorate's GOV.UK pages . For wider plan-making guidance, visit Create and Update a Local Plan (CULP).
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