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Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan Timetable

The Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan Timetable has effect from 2
nd
June 2026.

Timetable for preparing the Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan

Please note that where precise dates are currently unknown the 1
st
of the month is set out – specific dates will be added once known through
future updates to the Timetable.

The Regulations referred to are The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.

Local Plan Stage Description Date
Publish Local Plan
Timetable and Notice of
Intention to Commence
Local Plan Preparation
Publish Local Plan Timetable in accordance with the new plan-making regulations
and the Government template. The Local Plan Timetable will be reviewed once a
month and updated and re-published if necessary.

Publication of the Notice of Intention to Commence Local Plan Preparation under
Regulation 19 (1).
2
nd
June 2026
Start date for Local Plan
Scoping Consultation
A Local Plan Scoping Consultation will be undertaken for a period of at least six
weeks where representations will be invited. This consultation will invite feedback in
accordance with Regulation 20 (4) on matters including how the Councils will
engage with the public and stakeholders throughout the plan-making process and
what the Local Plan should contain.
5
th
June 2026
Date when
representations to the
Scoping Consultation
must be received
All comments (representations) on the Scoping Consultation must be received on
or before the specified date.
31
st
July 2026
Gateway 1: Publication of
self-assessment summary
Publication of a document setting out details of how the Councils have got ready for
plan-making, marking formal commencement of plan-making for the purposes of
the 30-month timeframe in accordance with Regulation 21 (3).
1
st
October 2026
Start date for consultation
on proposed Local Plan
Content and Evidence
Consultation for a period of at least six weeks on the proposed Local Plan content
and evidence, including draft vision, any proposed aims and objectives, the
proposed spatial strategy, summary of the evidence the Councils intend to gather,
1
st
January 2027

2

details of evidence already gathered, initial draft policies in accordance with
Regulation 23. Date that the notice will be published.
Date when
representations to the
Proposed Local Plan
Content and Evidence
consultation must be
received

All comments (representations) on the Proposed Local Plan Content and Evidence
consultation must be received on or before the specified date.

1
st
February 2027

Gateway 2 Seeking observations from the Planning Inspectorate on the draft Local Plan and
supporting evidence, and progress towards the ‘prescribed requirements’. Gateway
2 will take between 4-6 weeks, in accordance with Regulation 26.
1
st
September to 1
st

October 2027
Start date for Proposed
Local Plan consultation

Consultation for at least eight weeks on the Proposed Local Plan and supporting
documents in accordance with Regulation 27. Date that the notice will be published.

1
st
February 2028
Date when
representations must be
received to the Proposed
Local Plan
All comments (representations) on the Proposed Local Plan consultation must be
received on or before the specified date.

1
st
March 2028
Gateway 3 Testing the Local Plan has met the ‘prescribed requirements’ and can proceed to
Examination. Gateway 3 will take between 4-6 weeks, in accordance with
Regulation 31.
1
st
July to 1
st
August 2028
Submission of Local Plan
for Examination
Submission of the Local Plan for Examination. 1
st
September 2028
Examination Examination of the Local Plan against the tests of soundness set out in national
policy.
1
st
October 2028 to 1
st

March 2029
Adoption Adoption of the Local Plan.

1
st
April 2029

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The matters that the Local Plan will deal with

The Joint Local Plan will cover the period 1
st
April 2026 to 31
st
March 2045 and will replace the Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan Part 1
(2023) and the remaining Saved Policies from the Stowmarket Area Action Plan (2013). The Joint Local Plan will include a vision, objectives,
policies and site allocations.

The Joint Local Plan will not cover minerals and waste, as Suffolk County Council is the planning authority for these matters.

The geographical area to which the Local Plan will relate
The Local Plan will cover the administrative districts of Mid Suffolk and Babergh and is being prepared as a Joint Local Plan with Babergh
District Council. The Local Plan area is shown on the map below.

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Any Supplementary Plans to be prepared

There are no current confirmed plans to prepare any Supplementary Plans or any joint Supplementary Plans.

—

The Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan Timetable is prepared and published in accordance with the requirements of the Planning and
Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.

The Babergh and Mid Suffolk Joint Local Plan Timetable has effect from 2
nd
June 2026

The Local Plan Timetable has been made available to view in the following locations:

• On the Babergh District Council website (www.babergh.gov.uk/jointlocalplan) and Mid Suffolk District Council website
(www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/jointlocalplan).
• At the Councils’ offices at Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road, Ipswich, IP1 2BX.
• At the Customer Service Centres in Stowmarket (https://www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/w/customer-access-points) and Sudbury
(https://www.babergh.gov.uk/w/customer-access-points).

Copies of this Local Plan Timetable can be made available on request in accordance with the costs incurred by the Councils.