Changes to Local Plan timetable - Ashford Local Plan 2043 launched

Ashford Borough Council began work on a new Local Plan in 2023, under the national plan-making system at the time. This included a Call for Sites and a Regulation 18 consultation on the draft Ashford Local Plan 2042 in summer/autumn 2025. 

In March 2026, the Government brought in a new local plan-making system that is intended to make Local Plans quicker, clearer and more consistent. 

It requires authorities preparing plans under the new process to start formally by publishing a Notice of Intention to Commence Local Plan preparation and to work to a shorter timetable, with the aim of preparing and adopting plans within around 30 months.

Government guidance is clear that authorities cannot simply transfer work from the previous Regulation 18 stage into the new plan making process. As a result, the Council cannot continue the Ashford Local Plan 2042 through the old route and must restart under the new system.

The Council remains committed to producing an up-to-date Local Plan for Ashford as quickly as possible. Restarting the process is necessary because of the national regulatory changes, but the Council will use the work already undertaken where it can, while following the new legal process correctly.

The Council will now prepare a new plan, to be known as the Ashford Local Plan 2043. 

Previous engagement will not be wasted; all earlier evidence gathering and general themes raised in response to previous plan making stages (such as the Regulation 18 responses) remains important background information and will help inform the new process. In effect, we are restarting but are in an enhanced position to move swiftly forward along the new plan-making process.

Cllr Linda Harman, portfolio holder for planning, housing delivery & communications said: “We understand that people have already taken the time to comment on the emerging Local Plan, and we want to be clear that this work has not been wasted. Changes to the national plan-making system mean we must now follow a new statutory process, beginning with a formal Notice of Intention to Commence preparation of the Ashford Local Plan 2043. 

“While this means restarting the process in legal terms, the evidence gathered, sites submitted and feedback received so far will continue to help shape the new plan. This puts us in a strong position to move forward quickly, properly and transparently, while ensuring local people, communities and stakeholders continue to have opportunities to be involved.”

On 30 June 2026, the Council will be publishing its Notice of Intention to Commence preparation of the Ashford Local Plan 2043. The Notice confirms the Council’s intention to prepare a new Local Plan for the borough and sets out the intended scope and timetable. 

The Council will write to those who submitted sites through the Call for Sites and those who responded to the 2025 Regulation 18 consultation to explain the change and signpost the new timetable.

A three-week scoping consultation, mandated by the new process, is planned for September 2026. This will ask residents, businesses and stakeholders how they wish to be involved in the Local Plan process and what issues the new plan should cover. 

After publishing our Notice of Intention to Commence Local Plan preparation the Council will conduct a scoping consultation in September 2026.  After this a consultation on the proposed content and evidence will take place in November 2026 to January 2027 followed by a consultation on the proposed Local Plan in May to July 2027. 

The Local Plan will then be submitted for Examination in November 2027, with a target for adoption in March 2028.

For more information on our emerging Local Plan, visit our dedicated web pages.