Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/examining-local-plans-procedural-practice

Change description : 2025-11-27 12:47:00: Added information about the new plan-making system. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-09-23 08:02:23.553933990 +00:00..2025-11-27 12:47:46.750929144 +00:00

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
2327 SeptemberNovember 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Procedure Guide for Local Plan Examinations

HTML

Details

For plans under the new plan-making system 

If you are submitting your plan under the new system, use the create or update a local plan new system guidance. 

The new plan-making system covers plans that will be prepared and amended under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, as modified by the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

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 2327 SeptemberNovember 2025 + show all updates

  1. Added information about the new plan-making system.

  2. Update to to reflect the new pre-examination checklist

  3. 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.

  4. Guidance updated around the setting up and running of events.

  5. Linking off to new guide: Local plans: taking part in examinations

  6. MHCLG to DLUHC

  7. Link to Privacy policy updated

  8. This sixth edition has been updated to take account of recent experience of examinations and the advisory visits which Inspectors make to local planning authorities LPAs.

  9. Please note that the Procedure Guide pre-dates measures to limit the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) and it may not currently be possible to follow some of the advice it contains.

  10. Booklet updated

  11. Guide updated to take account of more recent refinements in practice and the update to the Planning Practice Guidance published on 19 May 2016

  12. First published.

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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.