Cabinet issues notice to start its Local Plan under new requirements
Cabinet has announced its intention to start its Local Plan and set its timetable under new statuary requirements.
The council’s planning service have been working on updating the Kirklees Local Plan which guides future growth and change over the period 2024–2043.
This month, the Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government have published new-plan-making regulations, and the council has taken the earliest opportunity to introduce them.
With the implementation of the new plan-making regulations, there are now new statutory requirements which the council will need to adhere to and make sure its Local Plan is compliant with the legislation.
Under the regulations, Cabinet agreed to issue its notice of intention to deliver its Local Plan and a revised Local Plan Timetable to reflect a prescribed 30-month plan-making process.
David Shepherd, Executive Director for Place, said:
“The Government’s plan-making reforms over the last 12 months represent a significant restructuring of Local Plan preparation with a focus on up-to-date plans, and a more efficient, transparent planning system that supports a growth agenda.
“By adopting the new requirements and issuing our intention to begin our Local Plan we can deliver a plan that supports sustainable growth, reflects local priorities and provides certainty for residents, partners and developers alike.
“The setting out of a clear timetable, will make it easier for us to engage our communities, collect feedback and bring forward our Local Plan.”
A new Local Plan timetable will replace the existing Local Development Scheme and will be required to report defined, plan-making milestones including when plan-making steps are undertaken and when consultation periods begin.
Work already undertaken on the Local Plan update will be reviewed against the updated statutory regulations and for compliance with the consultation draft of revised National Planning Policy Framework published for consultation in December 2025 which is yet to be formalised.
The Council will continue to work with internal and external partners on site assessments gathered through its call for sites process and build on the early engagement work already undertaken. However, the new statutory requirements for consultation will require further engagement exercises.
The Council will prepare and publish a self-assessment summary of their readiness to deliver its Local Plan and submit it to the MHCLG by October 2026.
The Local Plan Vision and Strategy will be prepared before it goes out to public consultation in June 2027.
A draft Local Plan will then be developed from feedback and further evidence gathering in July 2027. The draft and supporting documents will then be submitted for approval in March 2028.
A further public consultation will take place in April 2028 and the final Local Plan submitted and examined in September 2028.