Matthew Pennycook, the minister of state for housing and planning (pictured), has signed into law the regulations to commence the new plan-making system provided for by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.
A package of five statutory instruments was laid in parliament this week, including the new Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, which come into force on 25th March, replacing the existing 2012 plan-making regulations.
When the regulations come into force local plans will enter a period of dual-running. The legacy plan-making system will remain in place for authorities to adopt plans submitted no later than December 31st 2026, while the new system will be available for other authorities.
MHCLG has published a roadmap for the Create or Update a Local Plan guidance, setting out the expected release programme for further resources throughout 2026 on matters including plan timetables, data standards and community engagement.
Local planning authorities (LPAs) are encouraged to start to prepare a plan as soon as possible in the new system to get an ambitious and up-to-date plan in place.
The government has shared an explanation of what the regulations will require for plan-making, along with guidance on preparing a plan under the new plan-making system.
A revised version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published for consultation on 16 December 2025. The government will respond and publish an update once the consultation has been concluded and the necessary analysis of responses completed, which it anticipates completing in the summer of 2026.
