The government has made it clear that all local authorities must have an up-to-date Local Plan as soon as possible. Roughly 75% of existing Local Plans are over five years old. This matters, as under the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), published in December 2025, any local development management policy prepared under previous national policy which is in “any way inconsistent” with new national policy is to be provided very limited weight in making planning decisions.

While we still await the details of the new plan-making system, expected in Q1 2026, here's what we know about how local authorities will be expected to transition.

Why transitional arrangements matter

1. Plans submitted on or before 12 March 2025

Local Plans submitted before 12 March 2025 can still proceed under the transitional provision of the 2024 version of the NPPF, and so in the majority of cases these would be examined under the 2023 version of the NPPF, which means, for example, often a lower local housing need applies. All of these Local Plans are presently at examination in public.

2. For authorities aiming to submit an emerging Local Plan by 31 December 2026

If a local authority is currently progressing an emerging Local Plan, they must submit it by 31 December 2026 in order to remain under the current plan-making system, and could be examined under either the 2023 or 2024 NPPF, depending on when they published their Regulation 19 Consultation and whether their draft housing requirement was within 80% of the new standard method.

For many authorities nearing completion of their Local Plan, this offers continuity and avoids restarting under a new policy framework.

3. Authorities with no current emerging Local Plan

If an authority is not currently undertaking a review of its Local Plan or it has chosen to stop work while awaiting the new regulations, then different rules apply.

If the current adopted plan’s housing requirement is less than 80% of the standard method requirement and the area does not have an operative Spatial Development Strategy (SDS), additional transitional steps apply: By 30 June 2026, local authorities must submit a notification of intent to commence plan‑making and, by 31 October 2026, publish the Gateway 1 self‑assessment.

If the current adopted plan’s housing requirement is more than 80% of the standard method requirement and by 31 December 2026 and four years and eight months have passed since the existing Local Plan was adopted, then the authority must submit notification of intention to commence plan-making before 31 December 2026 and, by 30 April 2027, submit a Gateway 1 self-assessment. If not, then at the time four years and eight months have passed since adoption of the Local Plan, the authority must submit notification of intent to commence plan-making.

The above aims to ensure that no authority is left with a significantly out‑of‑date plan and that correct housing numbers are being met.

What this means for local authorities

1. Continue under the existing (also known as legacy) plan-making system and be examined under the 2023 NPPF. This is for plans submitted on, or before, 12 March 2025 or plans that were at Regulation 19 on, or before, 12 March 2025 and where the emerging housing requirement is within 80% of the 2024 standard method.
2. Continue under the ‘legacy’ plan-making system and be examined under the 2024 NPPF. This is for plans submitted after 12 March 2025, or that had not reached Regulation 19 by 12 March 2025, with an emerging housing requirement within 80% of the 2024 standard method.
3. Move fully into the new plan‑making system.

Further information

Contact Jade Jenkins or Charlie Collins