Local Plan 2026

These elements are not created in isolation; they form an evidence base that informs the plan’s strategy and policies, then get tested through consultation and examination. Key elements in broad terms are:

• Housing Need – The starting point for how many houses are needed
• Settlement Hierarchy – Which communities are able to sustain housing growth
• Spatial Assessment – Process for where housing is proposed to be built

Housing Need (Local Housing Need – LHN):

This is the starting quantitative target. It uses the government’s standard method (primarily based on existing housing stock with an affordability adjustment using workplace-based affordability ratios). It provides an unconstrained minimum annual figure for homes needed. The plan’s housing requirement is based on this (at least meeting LHN, sometimes more for economic growth) but adjusted for deliverability, constraints (e.g., Green Belt, flood risk, protected landscapes), and other factors. It is calculated early and reviewed as data updates.

Settlement Hierarchy:

This ranks settlements (e.g., main towns/cities at the top, then smaller towns, villages, hamlets) based on size, population, services/facilities, transport accessibility, and sustainability. It informs the spatial strategy – directing most growth to higher-tier, more sustainable locations while limiting development in lower tiers (e.g., infill only in small villages). Councils develop their own methodology through evidence like settlement assessments. DDDC carried out a reassessment of the Settlement Tiers in 2025 and Darley Dale remained Tier 2.

• Spatial Housing Land Assessment (SHLAA or SHELAA – Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment):

This identifies and evaluates potential sites for housing (and employment) across the area. It involves a “call for sites,” then assesses each for suitability (physical/environmental constraints, policy fit), availability (owner willingness, legal issues), and achievability (viability, delivery timescales). It estimates capacity, lead-in times, and build-out rates, producing a trajectory of supply (including 5-year housing land supply).

Not all sites are allocated – the Local Plan selects the best ones to meet needs in line with the spatial strategy and hierarchy. It is a key technical evidence document, not policy itself.

Neighbourhood Plans:

These are prepared by town or parish councils or neighbourhood forums for smaller areas. They can include detailed policies, design guidance, local site allocations (usually non-strategic), and protections. They must be in general conformity with the Local Plan’s strategic policies (e.g., overall housing numbers and broad locations). They can be made before, during, or after the Local Plan and become part of the development plan upon adoption.

Made (adopted) Neighbourhood Plans can influence the Local Plan (e.g., by identifying sites or priorities) and, in some cases, take precedence over conflicting non-strategic Local Plan policies. The council should support them and share evidence.

Other important elements include:

• A Sustainability Appraisal (SA) which promotes sustainable development by assessing how the plan will achieve relevant environmental, economic, and social objectives
• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) which is a process (required under EU Directive 2001/42/EC, transposed into UK law) that evaluates the likely significant environmental effects of certain plans and programmes.
• Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) A key evidence document for UK local plans that identifies the infrastructure (physical, social, green, transport, utilities, etc.) needed to support proposed growth and development. It outlines what is required, where, when, who will deliver it, and how it will be funded/timed to ensure the plan is deliverable and sustainable.
• Viability Assessment A process (guided by National Planning Policy Framework and Practice Guidance) to test whether proposed local plan policies, sites, or developments are financially viable – i.e., whether the value generated by development exceeds the costs (including policy burdens like affordable housing, CIL, S106, and infrastructure). Primarily done at the plan-making stage to ensure policies are realistic and won’t undermine overall plan deliverability.
• Evidence on economy, transport, environment, heritage, health, etc.

The process is iterative, evidence-driven, and involves public consultation. Under reforms effective around 2025 – 2026, England aims for a streamlined 30-month timeline from “Gateway 1” (readiness check) to adoption, with mandatory consultations, digital emphasis, and progress “gateways” involving Planning Inspectorate advice. Traditional stages (still foundational) align broadly with this.

Rough sequence (evidence is gathered/updated throughout, and Neighbourhood Plans can run in parallel):

• Getting ready – Evidence gathering at the early stage to determine housing need
• Develop Spatial Strategy – Use Settlement Hierarchy to decide where to build
• Draft a new Plan – Set final house building target and locations
• Public Consultation – Publish draft Plan and hold public consultation
• Submission – Planning Inspectors consider draft Plan and consultation feedback
• Adoption – Adopted plan becomes part of the Development Plan

1. Getting Ready / Evidence Gathering (Early/Pre-Process Stage)

Calculate housing need using the standard method. Conduct settlement assessments to develop the hierarchy.

• Run “call for sites” and prepare the Spatial Housing Land Assessment (SHLAA or SHELAA – Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment) to identify potential land.

Gather other baseline evidence (constraints, infrastructure, Sustainability Appraisal scoping).

Publish timetable (Local Development Scheme) and engage early stakeholders.

Output: Strong evidence base showing what is needed and what land is potentially available.

2. Developing the Spatial Strategy (Issues/Options or Proposed Content Consultation – Regulation 18 equivalent)

Use housing need as the target.

Apply the settlement hierarchy to decide broad distribution (e.g., X% growth in main towns).

Test spatial options for where to locate development.

Evaluate SHLAA sites against the emerging strategy, sustainability, and infrastructure.

Draft vision, objectives, and initial policies.

Consult on issues, options, and evidence summary (minimum 6 weeks).

Integration point: Hierarchy + housing need + SHLAA sites shape the strategy.

Neighbourhood groups may start or feed in ideas.

3. Refining and Drafting the Plan

Select and allocate specific sites from the SHLAA (justified by assessments of suitability/achievability).

Set the final housing requirement and trajectory, demonstrating how it meets need via allocations, windfalls, etc.

Develop detailed policies (housing mix, design, affordable housing, etc.).

Consider contributions from any made or emerging Neighbourhood Plans (e.g., their site allocations count toward targets).

Test via SA/SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) and viability.

Further consultation on a preferred or draft version.

4. Publication / Pre-Submission Consultation (Regulation 19 equivalent)

Publish the full draft Local Plan, evidence base (including updated SHLAA), SA report, and policies map.

Invite formal representations (typically 8+ weeks) on soundness.

Gateway checks in the new system assess readiness.

5. Submission, Independent Examination, and Modifications

Submit to the Secretary of State/Planning Inspectorate.

Inspector examines legal compliance (e.g., consultations, duty to cooperate) and soundness – including whether housing need is met, the strategy (hierarchy + distribution) is justified, and sites are deliverable (via SHLAA evidence).

Possible hearings and main modifications (consulted on if significant).

6. Adoption and Monitoring

Council adopts the plan.

It becomes part of the development plan alongside Neighbourhood Plans.

Annual monitoring (e.g., housing delivery, 5-year supply) and review every 5 years.

Neighbourhood Plans continue to be made or updated within the framework.

How It All Fits Together

• Housing need sets the “how many” target.
• Settlement hierarchy and spatial strategy decide the “where broadly.”
• SHLAA supplies the “which specific sites” to deliver it sustainably.
• Evidence base (including SA) justifies choices and tests alternatives.
• Consultations (including with communities preparing Neighbourhood Plans) refine and build support.
• Neighbourhood Plans add local detail, extra sites (if aligned), and community priorities without undermining the strategic framework.

The result is a plan that is evidence-based, spatially coherent, and deliverable, while allowing localism through Neighbourhood Plans. The process is collaborative but can be contentious, especially around site allocations and housing numbers.