About the Local Plan

Local Plan timetable

The council has moved the Local Plan timetable into the new plan-making system. The previous programme under the ‘legacy’ plan making system was undeliverable due to changes to the planning policy context which are beyond the council’s control. The council have adopted a revised programme that shifts the main stages of production and consultation for the Local Plan into 2026-2028, as set out in the table below.

The new plan-making system includes a prescribed sequence of stages, which includes three stages of formal consultation and three ‘gateways’ which are used to determine readiness to progress to the next stage of plan-making. The sequence is set out in the diagram below.

Localplan timetable 

Source: 30-month local plan process: an overview - GOV.UK 

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, part 15B(2)(i), requires the Local Plan timetable to specify a timetable for the preparation of the authority’s local plan for their area, in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, Regulation 4(1). The timetable is set out below.

Notice of intention to commence Local Plan preparation 

Tuesday 12 May 2026.

Consultation start: Scoping consultation 

Thursday 9 July 2026.

Consultation end: Scoping consultation  

The date on or before representations on the scoping consultation must be received by Hillingdon Council. 

Friday 21 August 2026.

Gateway 1 

Thursday 17 September 2026.

Consultation start: Local Plan content and evidence 

Thursday 5 November 2026.

Consultation end: Local Plan content and evidence 

The date on or before representations on the proposed local plan content and evidence consultation must be received by Hillingdon Council. 

Thursday 14 January 2027.

Gateway 2 

Monday 1 March 2027.

Consultation start: proposed Local Plan  

Tuesday 15 June 2027.

Consultation end: proposed Local Plan 

The date on or before when representations on the proposed Local Plan consultation must be received by Hillingdon Council. 

Friday 27 August 2027.

Gateway 3 

Friday 1 October 2027.

Submission of the proposed local plan to the Secretary of State for independent examination 

Monday 1 November 2027.

Consideration of adoption of the proposed Local Plan 

Monday 1 May 2028.

Links 

This Local Plan timetable is also published on the council website.