Local Plan update - latest news

The council's Local Plan, which was adopted in 2016, is currently being updated to ensure it remains up to date and delivers national and local objectives.

A Local Plan provides the planning policy framework to direct growth and change to appropriate locations and therefore achieve sustainable development to create places people want to live, work and locate their businesses. The plan covers all types of development, from housing to employment, schools, roads, parks, shops and community facilities, The Local Plan also includes a range of planning policies to inform the location, scale and appearance of developments. When adopted it will form part of the Development Plan for the area.

Current consultation - Call for sites (January 2025)

The council is undertaking a Call for Sites to inform the ongoing Local Plan Update process. The Call for Sites is for developers, landowners or other interested parties to let the council know about sites that could be suitable for housing and submissions on brownfield land are particularly encouraged. The council is also welcoming information on sites that are suitable for employment uses, renewable energy, Biodiversity Net Gain and nutrient mitigation in the River Test and Itchen catchments.

The call for sites closes on Monday 17 February 2025.

More information on the call for sites consultation

Reason why the Local Plan is being updated

National guidance promotes the concept of an on-going cycle of plan making and review, which is reinforced by a legal requirement to review Plans every five years. An updated plan will look longer into the future, covering the period up to at least 2040, and will ensure that the borough's needs are met over this longer period. It will also enable key objectives of the council, such as tackling climate change and ensuring the protection of enhancement of our environment to be embedded into the plan.

How long it will take to update the Local Plan

The council has published a Local Development Scheme (LDS) which sets out which planning documents will be produced and when. The current LDS will be updated in early 2025, following the publication of a new NPPF in December 2024.

Progress on the Local Plan update

The council has completed a number of initial stages of plan making:

A number of evidence base documents have also been completed, covering a variety of issues from landscape impact to water quality. View the published documents online.

The government published a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in December 2024 which impacts upon plan making, including introducing a higher local housing need figure. The council is considering the implications of the new NPPF and an updated LDS will be published early in 2025.

The Cabinet member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure, Councillor Andy Konieczko, has responded to the new NPPF.

Keep up to date

Sign up to the council's mailing list to receive updates on planning policy matters in the borough and be included in the circulation of the council's newsletter in future, please register for updates by using the link below using our consultation software CiviQ.

Register for updates

Please note that the above link takes you to an external portal, which the council subscribe to.

For further information on how your data will be used please read our Privacy Notice Basingstoke and Deane is the data controller for the personal information you provide on the form on CiviQ. You can contact the council by phone on 01256 844844 or by writing to us at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, RG21 4AH. The council’s Data Protection Officer can be contacted at dpo@basingstoke.gov.uk.

Contact details

Planning Policy Team

Local Plan Update graphic

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