New timeline set out for updated Kirklees Local Plan

The Local Plan is a document which sets out how much land can be developed and where this will take place, to meet the needs of local people and businesses. It also covers planning policies and details of land that will be protected or safeguarded.

Kirklees Council’s current plan came into force in 2019 and is currently undergoing a full review after being found unfit for purpose. This process kicked off in 2023.

This month, the Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government published new plan-making regulations that all Local Planning Authorities have to stick to.

This means that Kirklees Council now has to publish a notice of intention to update its Local Plan, with this agreed by cabinet last week. A 30-month plan-making process will follow, meaning that the final Local Plan is due to be ready in September 2028.

The council previously hoped to send a draft version of the plan out to public consultation by the end of this year, but the introduction of the legislation has pushed this back.

The cabinet report explains that the work already undertaken on the Local Plan update has not been for nothing and will be reviewed against the new regulations for compliance and carried forward.

David Shepherd, executive director for place, said: “The government’s plan-making reforms over the last 12 months represent a significant restructuring of Local Plan preparation with a focus on up-to-date plans, and a more efficient, transparent planning system that supports a growth agenda.

“By adopting the new requirements and issuing our intention to begin our Local Plan we can deliver a plan that supports sustainable growth, reflects local priorities and provides certainty for residents, partners and developers alike.

“The setting out of a clear timetable will make it easier for us to engage our communities, collect feedback and bring forward our Local Plan.”

Under the latest timescales, the council will prepare and publish a self-assessment summary of its readiness to deliver its Local Plan and submit it to the MHCLG by October 2026.

The Local Plan Vision and Strategy will be prepared before it goes out to public consultation in June 2027.

A draft Local Plan will then be developed from feedback and further evidence gathering in July 2027. The draft and supporting documents will then be submitted for approval in March 2028.

A further public consultation will take place in April 2028 and the final Local Plan submitted and examined in September 2028.