This initial edition of the guide supports local planning authorities (LPAs) and others involved in plan preparation and examination. It offers practical guidance, procedure and information and covers the gateway assessments and the examination process in detail.
The new local plan system, developed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and with specialist input from the Planning Inspectorate, came into force in March 2026 with the new Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, replacing the existing 2012 plan making regulations. It introduced a structured gateway process designed to support earlier engagement and help deliver the government’s expectation of a 30-month end-to-end plan-making process.
Local authorities working under the new local plan system are encouraged to visit Create or Update a Local Plan (CULP), which is the central resource for plan-making guidance and complements this procedural guide.
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.
This is a first edition – we will continue to develop and refine the guidance as the system beds in and as we gain experience of how it works in practice. We are committed to working closely with MHCLG and the wider planning community to make this new system a success.
The procedure guide is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s GOV.UK pages. For wider plan-making guidance, visit Create and Update a Local Plan (CULP).
Webinar and live question and answer (Q & A) session – Monday 6 July
We know there is considerable appetite in the plan-making community for further information on how examinations will work in practice under the new local plan system, and on the digital services being developed alongside it. We are therefore pleased to announce a webinar and live Q & A session on Monday 6 July, register here.
The webinar Plan, Prepare, Progress A practical guide to the new local plan system – will be presented by the Planning Inspectorate’s Andrew Megginson (Head of Plans Examination) and Simon Berkeley (Planning Inspector and Professional Lead for Local Plans) and feature contributions from colleagues at the Inspectorate and MHCLG. It will also give an introduction to both the new local plan system procedure guide and the digital services in development. The webinar will be followed by a live Q & A event which will give LPAs the opportunity to hear directly from the teams developing the new system, ask questions, and get clarity on how examinations will work in practice.
Legacy and new systems running together
The local plans system has now entered a period of dual-running. The legacy plan-making system (2012 regulations) will remain in place for authorities to adopt plans submitted no later than 31 December 2026, while the new local plan system is available for other authorities.
Information from MHCLG
Create or update a local plan using the new system – GOV.UK
Gateway 2 assessment for local plans what you need to do – GOV.UK
Gateway 3 for local plans what you need to do – GOV.UK