Local Plan Timetable
Published: 11 May 2026
Last Updated: 11 May 2026
Rossendale Borough Council published its Local Plan timetable which has effect from 11 May 2026.
The timetable is available for viewing, during normal office opening hours, at the Customer Services Hub, Futures Park, Bacup, OL13 0BB.
The timetable will be reviewed monthly and updated accordingly. It must contain the following information from the date on which it is first published in accordance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) (as amended).
|
Key Milestone
|
The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 |
Date |
|
|
(a) |
Council makes notice of intention to commence local plan preparation available |
regulation 19(1) |
11 May 2026 |
|
(b) |
Council makes a notice of scoping consultation available |
regulation 20(1)(b) |
15 June 2026 |
|
|
Council commences the ‘Call for Sites’ consultation |
not statutory |
15 June 2026 |
|
(c) |
the date on or before which representations will have to be received by the Council on the scoping consultation |
regulation 20(4) |
27 July 2026 |
|
|
end of Call for Sites consultation |
not statutory |
27 July 2026 |
|
(d) |
the date on which the Council will make its self-assessment summary available (Gateway 1) |
regulation 21(3) |
15 October 2026 |
|
(e) |
the date on which the council will make a notice of plan content and evidence consultation available [6 weeks] |
regulation 23(1)(a) |
15 May 2027 |
|
(f) |
the date on or before which representations will have to be received by the Council (consultation on proposed local plan content and evidence) |
regulation 23(4) |
30 June 2027 |
|
(g) |
the date on which observations and advice will be sought under section 15CA(3) of the Act (Gateway 2) |
regulation 26 |
15 September 2027 |
|
(h) |
the date on which the Council will make a notice of proposed local plan consultation available [8 weeks] |
regulation 27(1)(a) |
1 June 2028 |
|
(i) |
the date on or before which representations will have to be received by the Council (consultation on the proposed local plan), 14 December 2027 |
regulation 27(4) |
30 July 2028 |
|
(j) |
the date on which observations and advice will be sought under section 15CA(3) (Gateway 3: prescribed requirements assessment) |
regulation 31 |
1 September 2028 |
|
(k) |
the date on which the Council will submit its proposed local plan to the Secretary of State for independent examination under section 15D(1) of the Act, |
regulation 34 |
31 October 2028
|
|
(l) |
the date on which the local planning authority will consider adopting the proposed local plan under section 15EA of the Act. |
regulation 39 |
30 April 2029 |
If the Council is to undertake any additional consultation to the stages set out in the table above, then the Local Plan Timetable will be updated to confirm:
• the date on which the consultation will begin, and
• the date on or before which representations will have to be received by the authority.
Please note this timetable replaces any previous Local Development Scheme for Rossendale's Local Plan.
The key stages are further explained below:
Publish notice of intention to commence plan preparation
Rossendale Borough Council published a Notice of intention to commence plan preparation on 11 May 2026. On the same day, the Council also published this Local Plan Timetable which sets out the key stages of the process and explains when and how residents, stakeholders and other interested parties can get involved.
Scoping consultation
This public consultation will seek views from all stakeholders on the scope of the Local Plan and how they wish to be engaged during the plan-making process. A summary of the consultation and responses received will be published following this stage.
Gateway 1
Rossendale Borough Council will publish the Gateway 1 self-assessment summary demonstrating its readiness to prepare a sound Local Plan. This milestone formally marks the start of the 30-month plan preparation period.
Consultation on proposed plan content and evidence
Views will be sought on the emerging Local Plan’s draft vision, proposed spatial strategy and a summary of evidence gathered to date. The consultation will last for six weeks, after which a summary of the consultation and of responses received will be published.
Gateway 2
Officers will meet with the Planning Inspectorate, where an appointed gateway assessor will review progress on the Local Plan. The purpose of Gateway 2 is to identify and resolve potential soundness issues and to ensure that the Plan is on track to meet legal requirements. Once the Gateway 2 assessment is complete, the assessor’s formal report and observations will be published.
Consultation on the proposed plan
This is the final formal consultation during the 30-month plan preparation period and is a consultation on the full draft Local Plan and Policies Map. The consultation will last for eight weeks, after which a summary of the consultation and of responses received will be published.
Gateway 3 – Stop/Go
Gateway 3 is the final assessment stage by the Planning Inspectorate before the Local Plan can be submitted for examination. The gateway assessor will decide whether the Plan is ready for submission, based on prescribed requirements of legal compliance and the completeness of the submission documents. Following the assessment, the assessor’s report, submitted documents and a Gateway 3 completion statement will be published.
Plan submission
Subject to passing Gateway 3, the Plan and all supporting evidence will be formally submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination.
Plan examination
An independent Planning Inspector, appointed by the Secretary of State, will examine the Local Plan to determine whether it is sound and compliant with national planning policy.
Plan adoption
The Local Plan will be considered for adoption. On adoption, the Local Plan will form part of the statutory Development Plan for Rossendale.
The Local Plan timetable can also be found in the CSV files below. These files are made available under Open Government Licence and follow approved data standards.