What is a Local Plan?
A Local Plan sets out the vision and framework for development across Knowsley. It is the main planning document used to guide decisions on planning applications and future growth.
The Plan will identify how and where development should take place, including:
- Jobs, business and economic growth
- New homes and housing needs
- Town centres and regeneration
- Transport and infrastructure
- Schools, healthcare and community facilities
- Green spaces and environmental protection.
Local Plans are prepared by councils and form part of the statutory development plan, helping to determine planning applications.
Why do we need a new Local Plan?
Government policy requires all local authorities to have an up-to-date Local Plan. Under the Government's new Local Plan guidelines, Local Plans need to be updated every 5 years.
A new Local Plan is needed to:
- Manage development
- Reflect changes in national planning policy
- Plan for future housing and population growth
- Support the local economy and jobs
- Ensure development is supported by the right infrastructure
- Respond to key challenges such as climate change and health inequalities.
What will the new plan cover?
The new Knowsley Local Plan will set out:
- A long-term vision for the borough
- Strategic objectives for sustainable growth
- Policies to manage development
- Site allocations for housing, employment and other uses
- Infrastructure requirements to support development.
Issues addressed by the Local Plan will include:
- Housing needs and affordability
- Economic growth and investment
- Climate change and environmental protection
- Design quality and place-making
- Transport and connectivity
- Community wellbeing.
Preparing the new Local Plan
We are at an early stage in preparing the new Local Plan and are gathering evidence and views to help shape its direction.
Preparing a Local Plan involves several stages, including:
- Notice of Intention to Commence Plan Preparation – to help our external stakeholders and communities become aware of our plan-making and know when we expect to start preparing the plan.
- Scoping and early engagement - identifying key issues and priorities.
- Gateway 1 – self assessment to establish the readiness to start the 30-month plan preparation process and publishing a summary of this self-assessment. The 30-month plan preparation process starts on the date you pass through Gateway 1.
- Proposed Plan Content and Evidence consultation - setting out the draft vision and proposed aims and objectives, the proposed spatial strategy and a summary of the evidence gathered and to be gathered.
- Gateway 2 – observations and advice from the Planning Inspectorate to support the early resolution of potential soundness issues.
- Proposed Local Plan – setting out the proposed local plan and a map of the proposed Local Plan policies, site allocations and designations.
- Gateway 3 – observations and advice from the Planning Inspectorate to determine if the Local Plan is ready to be submitted for examination.
- Independent examination - review of the Local Plan by an independent Planning Inspector.
- Adoption - the Local Plan becomes official policy, succeeding the existing Local Plan.
- Monitoring of the Local Plan - to review progress against the Local Plan’s policy vision and objectives, as well as other key planning matters.
Local Plan Timetable
As part of the preparation of the Knowsley Local Plan, the Council must create, publish and keep a Local Plan timetable up to date. Knowsley’s Local Plan timetable will be hosted on a separate web page once it has been agreed.
What happens now?
While the new Local Plan is being prepared, current planning decisions will continue to be made using the existing Local Plan and national policy.
Progress updates will be provided as the Plan progresses down the 30-month timeline set by Government.