Planning Inspectorate issues guidance on new local plan-making system

The new system came into force under the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 in March this year.

It replaces the 2012 plan-making regulations and introduces a structured gateway process, which the Government said will support earlier engagement and help deliver a 30-month end-to-end plan-making process.

The inspectorate's new guide includes practical guidance, procedure and information and covers the gateway assessments and the examination process in detail.

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."

He said the guidance is a "first edition" and that the inspectorate will continue to refine the document "as the system beds in and as we gain experience of how it works in practice".

The guide can be found here.

Adam Carey