Local Plan timetable
The Somerset Local Plan timetable came into effect on 24 April 2026, when it was published on our website. It replaces the Local Plan timetable shown on page 9 of the Local Development Scheme (February 2025).
What the Local Plan will cover
The Local Plan will cover the whole of Somerset, except Exmoor National Park, which has its own Local Plan. The Minerals and Waste Plans for Somerset will be progressed separately.
It will set out a clear vision and spatial strategy for Somerset. It will explain how we plan for development and how we protect and improve the environment.
The new planning system
In November 2025, the government introduced a new system for preparing Local Plans. Under the new system, we are expected to prepare and adopt a Local Plan within 30 months.
Evidence gathering and consultation timing
Some early evidence for the Local Plan has already been completed or is underway. You can:
- sign up to the Plan-it newsletter for updates, or
- check the evidence base page on our website
Keeping the timetable up to date
The Local Plan timetable may change over time.
We will update it as required by the Regulations and publish any changes.
The “Regulation” references relate to the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 and “Act” refers to the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
The timetable
- 24 April 2026 – Publish Local Plan timetable (Regulation 4)
- 24 April 2026 – Give notice of intention to commence local plan preparation (Regulation 19(1))
- 19 June 2026 – Scoping consultation (give notice) including spatial strategy and draft vision, and consulting the statutory consultation bodies on the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (Regulation 20(1)(b))
- 24 July 2026 – Scoping consultation closes (Regulation 20(4))
- 30 October 2026 – Pass through Gateway 1 (publish self-assessment summary) (Regulation 21(3))
- 6 November 2026 – Publish summary of scoping consultation (Regulation 22(1))
- 10 September 2027 – Local Plan content and evidence consultation (give notice) including draft Sustainability Appraisal + Habitat Regulations Assessment (Regulation 23(1)(a))
- 29 October 2027 – Consultation on proposed local plan content closes (Regulation 23(4))
- 19 November 2027 – Pass through Gateway 2 when observations and advice will be sought (Regulation 26)
- 10 March 2028 – Proposed Local Plan consultation (give notice) and on conformity with Spatial Development Strategy, including full Sustainability Appraisal and Habitat Regulations Assessment (Regulation 27(1)(a) and 28(1))
- 5 May 2028 – Consultation on proposed Local Plan and conformity with Spatial Development Strategy closes (Regulation 27(4) and 28(2) (b))
- 7 July 2028 – Pass through Gateway 3 (prescribed requirements assessment) (Regulation 31)
- 8 September 2028 – Submit for Examination with final Sustainability Appraisal and Habitat Regulations Assessment (Regulation 34, 35 and 37, and section 15D(1) of the Act)
- 16 March 2029 – Adoption (Regulation 39, and section 15EA of the Act)
Approved data standard
We must follow the approved data standard to publish our local plan timetable so that we meet the requirements of the Planning Data (England) Regulations 2026.
This data is provided under the Open Government Licence.
