Thank you to everyone who commented on our new Local Plan (formally known as the Regulation 18 consultation).
This consultation has now closed.
We received more than 28,000 comments from more than 5,000 residents and organisations. A total of 1,150 people also attended one of our 30 face-to-face ‘Pop-up’ sessions that took place at 10 locations across the District where our staff were on hand to answer questions.
The consultation comments will be considered by our Development & Infrastructure Advisory Committee on 5 March 2026.
All the comments will be analysed and considered before we publish a final draft of the Local Plan in summer 2026 for further public comments (formally known as the Regulation 19 Publication). The revised Local Plan will be submitted to Government for examination by the end of 2026.
View the Local Plan timetable.
View published responses to the Regulation 18 consultation
About the New Local Plan
The Local Plan will guide how new developments are delivered between 2027 and 2042. It will include potential development sites, proposed by landowners, to meet the Government’s significantly increased local housing target of 17,175 new homes. That's 1,145 new homes every year, a 63% increase on the current housing target.
While the new Local Plan proposes to make the best use of sites within existing built-up areas and brownfield land, the Government’s amended planning laws require councils to use Green Belt land to meet its housing target.
Failing to meet the housing target could lead to the Local Plan being refused by Planning Inspectors. This would leave the District open to piecemeal development, which makes it harder for infrastructure providers to holistically consider the impact of new housing development on their services.
The Local Plan includes sites, spread across a broad range of settlements in the District, to meet the Government’s housing target in full, including much-needed affordable homes. All the sites that are under consideration have been put forward by landowners and developers. We have assessed the sites to check their suitability, availability and deliverability.
As well as new homes, the Local Plan includes proposals to support the economy by protecting business space and high streets and the provision of new infrastructure such as schools, shops, health centres and improved local transport.
Whilst it is challenging that some Green Belt land is being considered to meet national housing targets, the Local Plan will do all it can to protect the overwhelming majority of the Green Belt and the District’s environment and unique and special character.
Further information
Proposed development sites (digital map)