Emerging Local Plan Timetable
The Local Plan timetable sets out the anticipated key milestone dates for the preparation and adoption of the new Bromsgrove District Local Plan to be prepared by Bromsgrove District Council. The timetable outlines the opportunities for public and stakeholder engagement. The Local Plan timetable has been prepared in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 and the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended).
The Local Plan timetable came into effect on 29th June 2026 and replaces the Council’s Local Development Scheme published in February 2025. The Council published its notice of intention to commence local plan preparation in accordance with regulation 19(1) of the above regulations on 29th June 2026, details of which is available on our website – https://www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/BromsgrovePlan-noticetocommence.
The Bromsgrove District Local Plan will only cover local plan matters. It will not cover minerals and waste as Worcestershire County Council is responsible for the preparation of planning policy for minerals and waste development in Worcestershire.
The work to-date on the emerging Bromsgrove District Local Plan, including the work and comments received on the Draft Development Strategy consultation between 30th June and 20th October 2025, will feed into the preparation of the Plan under the new plan-making system. Although the Council has carried out regulation 18 statutory consultations under the legacy plan-making system, the legal requirements of the new system requires the Council to follow the requirements of the new system from start to finish. This does not mean that we cannot use the work already undertaken on the legacy plan-making system.
Scope of the Bromsgrove District Local Plan
The Bromsgrove District Plan (2011–2030) was formally adopted by Bromsgrove District Council in January 2017. This follows an independent examination in public and receipt of the Inspector’s Report into the examination of the Plan, concluding that the Plan was judged to have been found ‘sound’. The adoption of the District Plan superseded all policies contained within the previous Bromsgrove Local Plan 2004 and became part of the statutory development plan for the District.
The Council is now in the process of reviewing and replacing the Bromsgrove District Plan (2011–2030) which will set out a vision and strategy for where new housing, employment and other development alongside supporting infrastructure will take place up to the end of the plan period (2044). The Plan will also contain local policies that are not covered by the national decision-making policies to be contained in the forthcoming National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Together, these policies will be used to determine planning applications, guiding what can be built, where, and how. The scope and content of the Local Plan will be reviewed following the scoping consultation and the subsequent local plan content and evidence base consultation.
The emerging Bromsgrove District Local Plan will be produced as a new style local plan under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. The Plan will be prepared in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, which came into force on 25th March 2026, and the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended). In addition, the Plan will respond to the changes to the planning system through the proposed updates to the NPPF, published for consultation in December 2025. In light of preparing the Local Plan under the new plan-making system, the Plan will be prepared and adopted within 30 months once it passes through Gateway 1.
The geographical area of the Bromsgrove District Local Plan will cover the entirety of the administrative area of Bromsgrove District Council only (ONS Code – E07000234), as detailed in the notice of intention to commence local plan preparation – https://www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/BromsgrovePlan-noticetocommence. The Council is not proposing to prepare a joint local plan with another local planning authority.
When the Council confirms whether it will be preparing any supplementary plans, these will be included in an update to the Local Plan timetable. For each supplementary plan, the subject matter and geographical area, site or sites that each of those supplementary plans is to relate to will be confirmed.
The Council must ensure that for every part of its area, the development plan includes requirements with respect to design that relates to development, or development of a particular description, which the authority considers should be met for planning permission for the development to be granted. The Council will ensure that the development plan includes requirements with respect to design to meet section 15F of the Act.
Timetable for the preparation of the new Borough of Redditch Local Plan
The first stage is to publish the local plan timetable and notice of commencement of plan-making. The notice is a minimum 4 months’ notice before formally preparing the Local Plan and the start of the 30-month period to adopt the Local Plan. The commencement of the 30-month period starts when the Council passes through Gateway 1 (publication of the self-assessment summary).
The new local plan-making system allows for three consultations; a scoping consultation (before the 30-month formal process begins); proposed local plan content and evidence consultation; and finally, the proposed local plan consultation (prior to submission of the proposed local plan for independent examination).
The anticipated key milestone dates for the preparation and adoption of the Bromsgrove District Local Plan are shown in Table 1 below. The timetable will be updated as soon as is reasonably practicable once the relevant event has occurred or consultation has commenced.
Table 1: Local Plan timetable for the Bromsgrove District Local Plan
| Local Plan Event | Start date | End date |
|---|---|---|
|
Publish local plan timetable under regulation 8 |
29th June 2026 |
|
|
Publish notice of intention to commence local plan preparation under regulation 19(1) |
29th June 2026 |
|
|
Publish notice of scoping consultation under regulation 20(1)(b) |
See event 4 Below |
|
|
Scoping consultation under regulation 20 |
6 week period during July/August/September 2026 TBC |
|
|
Gateway 1: Publish Gateway 1 self-assessment summary under regulation 21(3) |
October 2026 |
|
|
Publish summary of scoping consultation under regulation 22 |
October 2026 |
|
|
Publish notice of local plan content and evidence consultation under regulation 23(1)(a) |
June 2027 |
|
|
Consultation on the proposed local plan content and evidence (not less than six weeks) under regulation 23 |
June 2027 |
July/August 2027 |
|
Publish summary of consultation on the proposed local plan content and evidence under regulation 24 |
October 2027 |
|
|
Gateway 2: observations and advice will be sought under section 15CA(3) of the Act in accordance with regulation 26 |
October 2027 |
|
|
Publish Gateway 2 observations and advice in accordance with section 15CA(5) of the Act and regulation 26(5) |
November/December 2027 |
|
|
Publish notice of proposed local plan consultation under regulation 27(1)(a) |
March 2028 |
|
|
Consultation on the proposed local plan (not less than eight weeks) under regulation 27 |
March 2028 |
April/May 2028 |
|
Publish summary of consultation on the proposed local plan under regulation 30 |
August/September 2028 |
|
|
Gateway 3: observations and advice will be sought under section 15CA(3) of the Act in accordance with regulation 31 |
August/September 2028 |
|
|
Publish Gateway 3 observations and advice in accordance with section 15CA(5) of the Act and regulation 31(5) |
September/October 2028 |
|
|
Submit the proposed local plan for independent examination under section 15D(1) of the Act |
October 2028 |
|
|
Publish the examiner’s recommendations and reasons in accordance with section 15D(13) of the Act and regulation 37. |
TBC |
|
|
Adoption of the local plan under section 15EA of the Act |
April 2029 |
|
*Reference to a specific regulation means the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026
**Reference to “the Act” means the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended)
Monitoring and updating of the Local Plan timetable
The Council will review the Local Plan timetable monthly from the date it came into effect and update it as necessary and as soon as is reasonably practicable when any changes are required.
The Council will also update the Local Plan timetable, as necessary and as soon as is reasonably practicable, including if any of the following events happen:
- Any further consultations that the Council decides to hold or if further observations and advice will be sought at Gateway 3 as necessary.
- Any key examination related events as necessary (main modifications consultation or pause of examination).
- If the Local Plan is withdrawn under section 15E of the Act or revoked under section 15G of the Act.
- Details of any supplementary plans that the Council decides to prepare.
- A schedule of the amendments to the Local Plan timetable are recorded in Table 2 below.
Finding out more
The Local Plan timetable is available for inspection at Bromsgrove District Council, Parkside during office hours and at libraries across the district (Alvechurch Library, Bromsgrove Library, Catshill Community Library, Hagley Library, Rubery Library and Wythall Library) during their respective opening hours. Details and opening times of the libraries can be found here
If you have any questions or would like further information, you can contact the Council’s Strategic Planning team here are their contact details
By post: Strategic Planning, Redditch Borough Council, Town Hall, Walter Stranz Square, Redditch, B98 8AH.
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