Government warns lagging councils of ‘tough action’ on local plans
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook has warned local authorities currently working without an adopted local plan to pick up the pace – or risk central government stepping in to take over.
Currently fewer than a third of local councils have up-to-date local plans, framework documents intended to set out the direction of development for local authority areas for the next decade or more.
Development and consultation on plans can take several years under the current system, but the government wants to speed up the process as part of proposals to deliver a target of building 1.5m homes by the end of 2029.
This month, the government launched updated procedures, which it says will “streamline” how the documents are prepared and examined across England.
It says its new two-and-a-half-year local plan process will “create a clear end-to-end framework” for creating and adopting plans, and will include checkpoints at three crucial stages of the process; scoping and priority setting, the creation of a draft plan, and readiness for examination.
The new policy is expected to take effect from early 2026.
“In order to deliver the homes and growth the country needs, we expect all local planning authorities to make every effort to get up-to-date local plans in place as soon as possible,” Pennycook told the House of Commons, via a written statement on 27 November.
“Local plans are the best way for communities to shape decisions about how to deliver the housing and wider development their areas need. In the absence of an up-to-date plan, there is a high likelihood that development will come forward on a piecemeal and speculative basis, with reduced public engagement and fewer guarantees that it will make the most of an area’s potential.”
He added that local authorities currently working without up-to-date local plans would be encouraged to bring forward proposals as soon as possible under transitional arrangements following the commencement of the new regulations.
In an update issued to councils this month, the government says it will provide “dedicated guidance and tools” to support organisations bringing forward a local plan in the new system – as well as £14m in funding to support the process.
Local authorities will have to commence formal plan making before 31 October 2026, while those that have a plan that is already over five years old must commence by 30 April 2027 – with Pennycook warning that the government could step in for planning authorities which are dragging their heels.
“The government is committed to taking tough action to ensure local authorities have up-to-date local plans in place,” he added.
“While we hope the need will not arise, we have made clear that we are willing to make full use of available intervention powers – including taking over a local authority’s plan making directly – if local plans are not progressed as required.”
