Local Plan timetable
Winchester City Council is now preparing a new local plan ‘Winchester District Local Plan 2044’, following on the recent adoption of the Winchester District Local Plan 2040 on 24 March 2026.
The new local plan will follow updated government requirements, including a clearer plan-making process with defined stages (‘gateways’) and an expected overall timescale of around 30 months.
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Local Government Reorganisation
The council is also mindful of Local Government Reorganisation in progress, with proposed local authority boundary changes and emerging devolution arrangements across Hampshire and the Solent. The timetables for Local Government Reorganisation and the new Local Plan process are currently not consistent.
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Joint Local Plan across the Mid Hampshire geography
Section 28 (as amended by S15) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 allows two or more local planning authorities to prepare a joint Local Plan. Adopting a collaborative approach to plan-making across the Mid Hampshire geography would enable the Councils to commission shared evidence, use specialist resources more efficiently, and address strategic cross-boundary issues from an early stage.
On 30 June 2026, the Council’s Cabinet considered and approved a report agreeing to explore opportunities for joint plan-making across the proposed Mid Hampshire area.
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Legal Compliance
However, in order to ensure legal compliance to meet the requirements under transitional arrangements in the National Planning Policy Framework 2024, the following sets out the prescribed content and timescale for a Winchester District Local Plan (including the parish of Newlands) as per relevant Government guidance and legislation.
The timings that have been included below are for a Winchester District Local Plan only based on the current anticipated start date. The duration of each consultation period is shown in brackets. The Winchester District Local Plan timetable will be regularly reviewed and it will need to be changed depending on the outcome of discussions on collaborative discussions on a plan-making across the proposed Mid Hampshire geography. Further details will be available on the Local Plan website.
Under Regulation 8(2)(b) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026
Winchester City Council confirms that the local plan timetable for the preparation of the Winchester District Local Plan 2044 is to have effect on 30 June 2026
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Matters to be covered by the Local Plan
The Winchester District Local Plan 2044 will provide the strategy for development for the period 2026-2044, with a spatial vision for achieving sustainable growth and site allocations to achieve this.
Winchester City Council does not currently intend to prepare any Supplementary Plans, but this will be kept under review. The Council currently intends to incorporate design policies within the local plan.
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Geographical Area to be covered by the Local Plan
In advance of the Local Government Reorganisation Structural Changes Order and transitional arrangements from Government, the local plan will cover the current administrative area of Winchester District excluding that part covered by South Downs National Park, as shown on the map below.
Local Plan Timetable (Published 30 June 2026)
| Local Plan Stage | Date |
|---|---|
Publish ‘Notice of intention to commence Local Plan preparation’Publication of the notice gives communities and stakeholders advanced notice of plan-making and sets out how and when they can get involved. The notice must be published at least 4-months before Gateway 1. |
30 June 2026 |
Start of first formal consultation (notice of scoping consultation)This consultation will invite feedback from stakeholders on how to engage with them during preparation of the local plan and what the plan should contain. |
7 September 2026 (21 days) |
Date when representations to the scoping consultation must be receivedAll comments (representations) on the scoping consultation must be received by this date. |
23:59pm on 28 September 2026 |
Gateway 1 (publication of self-assessment summary)This new requirement is a self‑assessment summary confirming that we have published the timetable and notice, completed the scoping consultation, and have a project plan in place to begin the formal stage of preparing the local plan. Once we complete Gateway 1, we have 30 months to prepare and adopt the plan. |
30 October 2026 |
Start of second formal consultation (proposed Local Plan content and evidence consultation)This consultation will focus on the content of the local plan and the evidence that has been commissioned to support the plan. It will set out the proposed vision, aims and objectives, and a summary of the policy topics the plan will cover. |
19 March 2027 (6 weeks) |
Date when representations to the proposed Local Plan content and evidence consultation must be receivedAll comments (representations) on the proposed Local Plan content and evidence consultation must be received on or before this date. |
30 April 2027 |
Gateway 2This requirement is a formal method of obtaining feedback from a planning inspector on the draft plan and supporting evidence, ensuring our approach aligns with national policy, guidance and legislation. |
4 January 2028 |
Start of third formal consultation (proposed Local Plan consultation)This 8 week consultation is on the final version of the plan and includes all policies and the proposed site allocations. |
4 February 2028 (8 weeks) |
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Date when representations on the proposed Local Plan consultation must be received All comments (representations) on the proposed Local Plan content and evidence consultation must be received on or before this date. |
31 March 2028 |
Gateway 3 (prescribed requirements assessment)This requirement is a final check by an external assessor (planning inspector) to confirm that the plan meets planning regulations and the tests of soundness, before formally submitting it for Examination. |
7 July 2028 |
Submission of the proposed Local Plan to the Secretary of State for independent ExaminationThe proposed Local Plan must be submitted for an independent Examination carried out by a Planning Inspector. The Examination should last no longer than 6 months. |
30 October 2028 |
Adoption of the proposed Local PlanConsideration of adoption of the Local Plan by the new Mid Hampshire Authority as the statutory development plan covering the former Winchester District. |
30 April 2029 |