The Planning Inspectorate will introduce a pre-examination checklist for local plans from 6 October 2025. The checklist is designed to ensure plans are ready for examination, resulting in a more efficient process for both local planning authorities and the Inspectorate whilst maintaining examination quality.

Purpose of the pre-examination checklist

The Planning Inspectorate examines local plans on behalf of the Secretary of State to ensure they meet legal requirements and tests of soundness before adoption.

The pre-examination checklist will form part of that responsibility and will allow local planning authorities and the Inspectorate to check whether a plan is “ready for examination” before submission of the plan. This aims to minimise the risk of local planning authorities, intereste

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