Planning Inspectorate to bring in pre-examination checklist for local plans from next month

The Inspectorate said the checklist is designed “to ensure plans are ready for examination, resulting in a more efficient process for both local planning authorities and the Inspectorate whilst maintaining examination quality”.   

It added that the checklist would form part of its responsibility for ensuring local plans meet legal requirements and tests of soundness before adoption, and allow local planning authorities and the Inspectorate to check whether a plan is “ready for examination” before submission of the plan.

“This aims to minimise the risk of local planning authorities, interested parties, and the Planning Inspectorate participating in examinations that take a significant amount of time and resources but ultimately result in a conclusion that the plan cannot be found sound or legally compliant,” the Inspectorate said.

The checklist will require local planning authorities to ensure they have provided examining inspectors with comprehensive, accessible information relating to legal compliance, plan content and available evidence. 

The Planning Inspectorate will use the information provided to help it assess if: 

• all necessary practical arrangements are in place 
• essential evidence and other documents are ready for submission; and 
• the rationale for the plan content is clear. 

The Inspectorate will aim to respond within 10 working days of receiving a completed checklist.

“If deemed ready for examination, the local planning authority will be invited to submit its plan immediately. If the Planning Inspectorate’s assessment of the checklist suggests the plan may not be ready for examination, the local planning authority will be provided with recommended actions to address identified shortcomings,” it said. 

The checklist and Inspectorate’s response will be made available on the examination website along with the plan and all other submission documents “to maintain transparency for all”.  

Further detail on this change can be found in the Procedure Guide and related documents.