Shaping the next Local Plan

The Local Plan is our long-term strategy for the Borough. It includes a vision for how the Borough is expected to change and develop, identifies the locations where different uses (such as housing, jobs and the environment) will be supported and protected, and sets the detailed policies and standards that new developments need to meet.

Every Council is responsible for producing a Local Plan for their area and for undertaking regular reviews to ensure they remain up to date.

New regulations

New regulations, established in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, introduced a new system for preparing Local Plans in England. The new regulations, which came into effect on 25 March 2026, set out mandatory requirements, including publishing a plan timetable and completing gateway assessments, which all Councils must now complete as part of the new plan-making system. We are considering how to shape the borough’s next Local Plan in this new system and will provide updates here as they become available.

New plan making system 

Guidance for the new plan making system establishes a new Local Plan gateway process which Councils must follow. The process involves a number of mandatory steps, including a need to publish certain information and hold public consultations at specific times. These steps take place between formal gateways. Each gateway involves a self-assessed review or a review by a member of the independent Planning Inspectorate to ensure that the preparation of the Local Plan is appropriate and legally compliant.

Local Plans are expected to be completed within 30 months following the completion of Gateway 1 and the system divides the new process into multiple stages of preparation, production, examination, adoption, and monitoring.

National Planning Policy Framework

The draft National Planning Policy Framework was consulted on from in December 2025 and proposed substantial changes which will impact on the direction of new Local Plans. The Council’s response to this consultation can be found here Response to government consultations - London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Publication of the NPPF is expected in summer 2026.

London Plan

From 9 May 2025 to 22 June 2025, the GLA conducted a consultation to begin the process of producing the next London Plan. The consultation, Towards a new London Plan, asked stakeholders to input into the strategic framework that will guide and shape London’s development in the years ahead.

The London Plan forms part of the development plan for the borough and provides the spatial development strategy for Greater London. Changes to the London Plan can have a direct impact on planning related decision making within the borough and the Council have responded to the consultation to help shape the next iteration of the strategic framework. Our response to this consultation can be found on our Response to government consultations page. The GLA are expected to publish a draft London Plan for consultation in Summer 2026.

We will be preparing a response to the draft London Plan. More information about this will be provided on our London planning page.