Emerging Bromsgrove District Local Plan - Latest News

Bromsgrove District Emerging Local Plan: Publication of Local Plan timetable and notice of intention to commence local plan preparation

If you responded to the Draft Development Strategy (DDS) consultation during summer 2025, please read text highlighted in bold below. 

The Government has introduced a new plan-making system. The emerging Bromsgrove District Local Plan will be produced under this new system. (Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026) 

The purpose of the new system is to create a faster, more streamlined, and more digitised plan-making system. Further details can be found on the GOV.UK overview page.

On the 29th of June 2026, the Council published the notice of intention to commence local plan preparation and the Local Plan timetable. These are the first steps in the Council starting a Local Plan under the new system. There will be a further consultation commencing in due course - a scoping consultation on what the Local Plan should contain and the consultation and engagement strategy as we progress the Local plan through future consultations to adoption. The scoping consultation will not identify development sites or draft planning policies.  

Your previous comments to the Draft Development Strategy (DDS) consultation will continue to shape the Local Plan. DDS responses will help inform the evidence base and potential sites to be consulted on in summer 2027 - the new system does not affect how DDS comments will be considered.

The Council has published summaries of all the comments received on settlements suggested for growth, which can be found at the bottom of this page. 

Where we are in the Local Plan process

The Council is currently progressing the preparation of its new Local Plan. The analysis of the 8000 consultation responses is well underway, alongside additional evidence gathering, such as revised green belt assessment. At this stage in the process no decisions have been reached on the final strategy and the development sites required to deliver that strategy. The views expressed in the summer of 2025 are still being considered.

These views have been consolidated into Initial summaries of the Consultation responses. These summaries have been published alongside this statement please see further down the page for details.

The Council is about to consider a new timetable for plan making under the new streamlined plan making system. This will be discussed at the  20th May Council meeting, please note this meeting is to purely consider the notice of commencement, and the plan timetable  Possible development sites or new planning policies will not be part of this discussion.

Why residential planning applications are happening

When developers choose to submit residential planning applications is determined by a number of different factors. It is important to note that in common with many authorities nationally, the council cannot demonstrate a five‑year housing land supply. In the absence of an up‑to‑date adopted Local Plan, national planning policy increases the weight that can be given to new residential development. This creates a situation where developers seek to promote sites earlier than intended through the plan-making process, as government policy is to see a significant increase in new housing.

What the Council is doing to address this issue.

The Council is actively addressing this situation by:

• Prioritising work on the new Local Plan, continuing evidence preparation and site assessment.
• Scrutinising all applications rigorously, assessing them against national policy, existing local policies, environmental constraints, and infrastructure capacity.
• Working with infrastructure partners to understand and plan for the impacts of growth on schools, highways, health services, utilities, and the environment.
• Engaging with communities and stakeholders in the planning application process to ensure local views continue to input into decision-making.

The Council’s position

The Council recognises the challenges faced where there are increased number of planning applications for new dwellings The Council remains committed to:

• Plan-led growth, where the scale, location, and phasing of development are properly coordinated.
• Ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with development, preventing undue pressure on all types of infrastructure.
• Protecting where possible valued landscapes, heritage assets, and environmental features, ensuring development is sustainable and respects local character.
• Making decisions based on evidence, professional judgement, and national guidance.

What happens next?

The Council will:

• Publish the new timetable for the Local Plan and carry out the Scoping stage of plan making this summer. Then move as quickly as possible to publish the draft Local Plan for consultation giving residents, businesses, and stakeholders further opportunity to comment on proposed policies, potential site allocations, and infrastructure requirements.
• Continue to determine planning applications in accordance with relevant local and national policy.