North Northamptonshire Local Plan (2024-2045) timetable, September 2026
Matters the Local Plan will deal with
The North Northamptonshire Local Plan will cover the entire administrative area of North Northamptonshire (ONS code E06000061) and provide the strategic framework for development and conserving and improving the local environment. The plan will include allocations to meet the needs of the area. It will also provide the spatial strategy for the period 2024-2045, with the spatial vision for achieving sustainable growth extending beyond this.
The North Northamptonshire Local Plan will not incorporate all or parts of a Minerals and Waste Plan. A separate Minerals and Waste Plan will be prepared which is expected to cover the administrative areas of North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire, the plan being prepared together with the West Northamptonshire planning authority.
The council does not currently intend to prepare any supplementary plans.
Key milestone dates
| Key steps in the new Local Plan system | Brief description of the key steps in the new Local Plan system | Local Plan timetable | Month in formal process |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulations commence | Legal framework which sets the key steps of the new system. | 25 March 2026 | - |
| Publish local plan timetable | The timetable must be kept up-to-date and set out the anticipated and actual dates for key plan-making stages. | 27 April 2026 | - |
| Publish notice of intention to commence local plan preparation | Publication of notice which commences a minimum 4-month notice period so that stakeholders are aware plan-making is beginning. | 27 April 2026 | - |
| Scoping consultation | Inviting feedback from stakeholders on how to engage with them and what the plan should contain. | 20 May-1 July 2026 | - |
| Gateway 1 - self assessment of readiness | Publication of a document setting out details of how you have got ready for plan-making, marking formal commencement of plan-making for the purposes of the 30-month timeframe. | October 2026 | 1 |
| Consultation: proposed local plan content and evidence | Minimum 6-week consultation on the proposed local plan content and evidence, including a draft vision. | January-February 2027 | 4-5 |
| Gateway 2 | Seeking observations and advice from PINS to support the early resolution of potential soundness issues and progress towards the ‘prescribed requirements’. | July 2027 | 10 |
| Consultation: proposed local plan | Minimum 8-week consultation on the proposed local plan and its supporting documents. | October-December 2027 | 13-15 |
| Gateway 3 | Testing if the proposed local plan has met the ‘prescribed requirements’ and can proceed to examination. | June 2028 | 21 |
| Submission of Local Plan for Examination | Normally submitted within 3 weeks of receiving the assessors gateway report (if nothing needs addressing) | July 2028 | 22 |
| Examination | Examination of the local plan against the test of soundness, to be set out in national policy. | September 2028-February 2029 | 24-29 |
| Adoption | Publication of the local plan and adoption statement. | March 2029 | 30 |
Schedule of amendments to Local Plan timetable
The following table sets out the changes that have been made to the timetable since it was first published.
| Update made | Date of update |
|---|---|
| The specific dates of the Regulations commencing, publication of the timetable and notice of intention to commence local plan preparation have been added. | 29 September 2026 |
| Additional text has been added to the matters the plan will cover to provide additional clarity. | 29 September 2026 |
| The specific Scoping consultation dates have been added including the end date changing to July from June. | 29 September 2026 |
| The date for Gateway 1 has been changed from August 2026 to October 2026. | 29 September 2026 |
| The dates for consultation on the proposed local plan content and evidence have been changed from October-November 2026 to January-February 2027. | 29 September 2026 |
| The date for Gateway 2 has been changed from March 2027 to July 2027. | 29 September 2026 |
| The dates for proposed local plan consultation have been changed from May-July 2027 to October-December 2027. | 29 September 2026 |
| The date for Gateway 3 has been changed from March 2028 to June 2028. | 29 September 2026 |
| The date for submission of the Local Plan for Examination has been added. | 29 September 2026 |
| The dates for the Local Plan Examination have been changed from June-December 2028 to September 2028-February 2029. | 29 September 2026 |
| The date of adoption of the Local Plan has been changed from January 2029 to March 2029. | 29 September 2026 |
| Month-in-process milestones have been updated consequentially to reflect timetable revision. | 29 September 2026 |
The timetable is also available in the Government’s approved data standard. This will be updated when changes have been made to the timetable and when milestones have been met.
This timetable takes effect on Tuesday 29 September 2026.
Last updated 29 September 2026