East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) has put the brakes on submission of its new Local Plan.
It says that preparations to submit the draft document for examination by 31 December of this year would be ‘pointless and unjustifiable’.
Under transitional arrangements for England’s planning reforms, 31 December 2026 is the final deadline for local authorities to submit emerging local plans for examination under the legacy system – which is being replaced by a new 30-month Local Plan system.
EHDC has blamed its decision on new planning rules, combined with a recent decision on local government re-organisation.
In 2028 East Hampshire will cease to exist as an administrative entity with southern parishes joining a different unitary council to towns such as Alton and Whitehill & Bordon.
EHDC says that it will now focus its plan-making in a way that is relevant to the future council structure in Hampshire.
Cllr Richard Millard, EHDC leader, said: “We believe in the principle of plan-making, but repeated Government changes to planning rules have torn the heart out of our Local Plan.
“Even if we produced a plan by the deadline of 31 December 2026, there will be so many new rules between now and then that it would be rendered pointless.
“Putting together a local plan is hugely costly and requires hundreds of thousands of pounds to engage expert consultants to advise on transport, utilities and more. Spending that amount of tax payers’ money on a document that would be of little use once completed is totally unjustifiable.”
EHDC is the latest local authority to call a halt on plan making under the existing rules and instead aim for submission under the new system, which mean that Local Plans must be completed within 30 months from Gateway 1 to adoption.
We monitor the progress of Local Plans across the region. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out how any delays or changes will affect your plans or project.
We can also support anyone with land or a site they wish to promote for inclusion in a Local Plan.
