The Council’s Development and Infrastructure Advisory Committee will consider the updated Local Plan on 30 June 2026 followed by Cabinet on 7 July 2026.
Subject to Cabinet approval, residents can have a final say on the Local Plan from 23 July to 17 September 2026. This engagement period is formally known as the ‘Regulation 19 Publication’.
At this stage, the public cannot suggest new development options. Instead, their comments must focus on whether the new Local Plan is compliant with the relevant legislation and if it is ‘sound’, in other words based on evidence, meets future need, is deliverable and promotes sustainable development.
View the Committee papers that will be considered by our Councillors. They include the Regulation 19 Publication version of the Local Plan, the proposed development sites, the 2026 Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) and other associated evidence and materials.
View the Local Plan Timetable.
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 17,460 new homes. That's 1,164 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.