Guidance
Procedure Guide for Local Plan Examinations
Guide aimed at all those involved in the process and concerned with the procedural aspects of examining a local plan.
- From:
- Planning Inspectorate
- Published
- 13 May 2014
- Last updated
-
2823AugustSeptember20242025 — See all updates
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This guide includes advice on:
- Glossary of abbreviations
- Introduction
- Overview of the examination
- Section 1: Before submission
- Section 2: Submission
- Section 3: Initial assessment and organisation of the hearing sessions
- Section 4: Preparation for the hearing sessions
- Section 5: Conduct of the hearing sessions
- Section 6: Main modifications to the plan
- Section 7: The Inspector’s report
- Section 8: Quality assurance, fact-check procedure and delivery of final report to the LPA
- Section 9: Other procedures and matters
- Technical seminars and meetings
- Formal presentation of evidence and cross-examination
- Pre-hearing meetings
- Conduct of all parties during the examination
Updates to this page
Published 13 May 2014
Last updated 2823 AugustSeptember 2024
+ show2025
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
-
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2025-11-27 12:47
Added information about the new plan-making system.
2025-09-23 09:00
Update to to reflect the new pre-examination checklist
2024-08-28 12:13
Changes to reflect the Minister’s Letter;Amending ‘DLUHC’ to ‘MHCLG’; Inclusion of guidance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the production of hearing statements;Updates to invoicing procedures to reflect the current service level agreement;Correction of minor typographical errors.
2023-02-10 10:24
Guidance updated around the setting up and running of events.
Details
This guide includes advice on:
- Glossary of abbreviations
- Introduction
- Overview of the examination
- Section 1: Before submission
- Section 2: Submission
- Section 3: Initial assessment and organisation of the hearing sessions
- Section 4: Preparation for the hearing sessions
- Section 5: Conduct of the hearing sessions
- Section 6: Main modifications to the plan
- Section 7: The Inspector’s report
- Section 8: Quality assurance, fact-check procedure and delivery of final report to the LPA
- Section 9: Other procedures and matters
- Technical seminars and meetings
- Formal presentation of evidence and cross-examination
- Pre-hearing meetings
- Conduct of all parties during the examination
Updates to this page
Published 13 May 2014
Last updated Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2025-11-27 12:47
Added information about the new plan-making system.
2025-09-23 09:00
Update to to reflect the new pre-examination checklist
2024-08-28 12:13
Changes to reflect the Minister’s Letter;Amending ‘DLUHC’ to ‘MHCLG’; Inclusion of guidance on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the production of hearing statements;Updates to invoicing procedures to reflect the current service level agreement;Correction of minor typographical errors.
2023-02-10 10:24
Guidance updated around the setting up and running of events.