UK Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) 
Creating local plans is currently a slow and complex process. Plans can take local planning authorities (LPAs) at least seven years on average to produce which means they can be out of date too quickly.
Our ambition is to modernise plan-making, focusing on user needs and leveraging digital tools to make the process faster, simpler, and more efficient. Having up-to-date adopted local plans in place gives clarity and confidence to get on with building the new homes and infrastructure that communities need. Our approach will ensure that LPAs can deliver plans more effectively.
What we’re doing
Our goal is to help every LPA create and adopt a local plan as quickly as possible, supporting the forthcoming policy expectation for plans to be prepared and adopted in 30 months, significantly reducing the time and costs currently involved.
We are focused on supporting LPAs with clear guidance, practical tools and joined-up services to make the local plan process faster while ensuring it remains evidence-based, consistent and accessible.
Our approach
We have created new dedicated home for plan-making resources on GOV.UK: Create or update a local plan. This brings together all the essential tools and guidance councils need to quickly develop a local plan, underpinned by quality data. We will be adding more practical resources to help planners at all stages of the plan-making process. Over the coming months, we also intend to provide more information about the new plan-making system, enabled through the Levelling up and Regeneration Act, before it takes effect.
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Key features include:
- New style guidance designed to be clear, concise and in formats that support LPAs to understand what is required. It gives plan makers what they need to create plans faster and supports every stage of the plan making process.
- New tools that will help reduce some of the current administration burdens that fall on LPAs. This includes automation tools like a free Microsoft 365 add-on to process and organise consultation responses, speeding up the consultation process.
- Standards for policy maps. Introducing the first-ever standards to bring consistency to policy mapping, reducing preparation time. Visualisation standards will benchmark how spatial data and plans are presented, making them easier for everyone to understand.
- The sharing of best practice through case studies.
This isn’t just about digital tools—it’s about transforming the entire plan-making process. By combining cutting-edge resources with new approaches to guidance and collaboration, we’re supporting LPAs to deliver local plans that are faster, simpler, and more accessible.
Why we’re doing it
Having up-to-date Local Plans is crucial for creating sustainable, well-designed places. These plans guide decisions about where homes, jobs, and services are located, ensuring developments meet local and national priorities.
Following a previous consultation on the new plan-making system, we heard that LPAs are looking for clearer guidance, consistency and more practical tools to speed up plan-making.
We’re addressing these barriers by:
- Providing standards and consistency around formats.
- Reducing uncertainty about evidence requirements and fear of challenge at examination.
With faster, simpler, and more accessible plans, we can build confidence and certainty for planners, developers and communities.
How to get involved
The transformation of local plans is a collective effort. By working closely with LPAs, developers and communities, we’re building a faster, simpler, and more accessible planning system that supports vibrant, sustainable places.
Follow our updates on our Digital Planning website and LinkedIn page and explore how you can get involved in shaping the future of plan-making.