Further information

PART 2 - Further information

This section:

Explains the work already undertaken on the Leeds Local plan, including

• Consultation 
• Provides a summary of the new plan-making process
• Summarises national planning policy changes

Work already undertaken on the Leeds Local plan 

Accompanying this consultation is a high-level summary of the last consultation undertaken on the Leeds Local Plan (link). The feedback already received will help to shape the plans content and evidence for consultation in Winter 2026/27, but we also hope that you will find it useful in considering which forms of consultation and engagement work best for you and your community. 

There have been two previous consultations on the Leeds Local Plan:

• Spring 2023 – proposed scope: public consultation on the proposed scope of the Plan.
• Summer 2025 – Issues and Options: a wide-scale consultation on draft objectives, policy approaches and a wide range of potential sites. Over 40,000 comments were received.

These consultations were held under the previous national regulations which means we need to consult again on the scope of the Plan.

A summary of the new plan-making process

Key features of the new plan-making system:

• Local Plans are expected to be prepared and adopted within 30 months
• Plans are shorter and more focused on the most important local issues
• Local Plan policies will complement and not repeat national planning policies 
• Three ‘gateway’ checks will help guide the plan to adoption, and help identify any issues at an early stage.

 The overall process is shown in the diagram below:

The 'Notice of Intention to Commence Plan-making' and new 'Local Plan Timetable' can be viewed here - Emerging Local Plan. 

Summary of national planning policy changes 

In March 2026 the Government concluded consultation on proposed major updates to national planning policy. The proposed changes included:

• Clarification that Local Plans should be as streamlined as possible and only include policies which extend beyond site or location-specific requirements where necessary and clearly justified. 
• Proposed ‘National Development Management Policies’ that would provide a consistent national basis for planning decisions, reducing the need for some local planning policies. 
• Limits what Local Plans can set quantitative standards for, and the extent to which Local Plans can address matters that are also considered through Building Regulations.  

The final updated version of the NPPF has not yet been published, so the results of this consultation will be combined with further government announcements and will, together, shape and direct the scope of the plan.