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Durham County Council

Plan timetable

Reference Name Plan Plan event Document URL Documentation URL End date Entry date Event date Predicted date Notes Actual date Start date
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-publish-notice-intention-commence Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan publish-notice-intention-commence 2026-04-23 2026-03-25 Publishing the notice of intention to commence Local Plan preparation is a new requirement. It gives communities and stakeholders advance notice of plan?making and sets out when and how they can get involved. The notice must be published at least 4 months before Gateway 1. 2026-03-25 2026-03-25
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-scoping-consultation-start Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan scoping-consultation-start 2026-04-23 2026-06-18 This is a new requirement, but similar to the engagement we’ve already done. We will use this consultation to check that what we’ve heard from communities and stakeholders is still relevant.
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-scoping-consultation-end Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan scoping-consultation-end 2026-04-23 2026-08-13 All comments (representations) on the scoping consultation must be received on or before this date.
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-gateway-1-self-assessment Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan gateway-1-self-assessment 2026-04-23 2026-09-01 An opportunity for residents, town and parish councils, councillors and stakeholders to comment on sites submitted through our call for sites. This is not a formal consultation required by legislation.
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-plan-content-evidence-consultation-start Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan plan-content-evidence-consultation-start 2026-04-23 2027-03-01 All comments on the submitted sites must be received on or before this date.
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-plan-content-evidence-consultation-end Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan plan-content-evidence-consultation-end 2026-04-23 2027-04-12 This new requirement is a self?assessment summary confirming that we have published the timetable and notice, completed the scoping consultation, and have a project plan in place to begin the formal stage of preparing the Local Plan. Once we complete Gateway 1, we have 30 months to prepare and adopt the plan.
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-gateway-2-advice-sought Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan gateway-2-advice-sought 2026-04-23 2027-06-01 This second formal consultation sets out the proposed vision, aims and objectives, and a summary of the policy topics the plan will cover. We will also publish a summary of the evidence proposed to support the plan.
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-gateway-2-advice-published Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan gateway-2-advice-published 2026-04-23 2027-07-12 All comments (representations) on the proposed Local Plan content and evidence consultation must be received on or before this date.
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-proposed-plan-consultation-start Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan proposed-plan-consultation-start 2026-04-23 2027-10-26 This new requirement is a formal method of obtaining feedback from a planning inspector on the draft plan and supporting evidence, ensuring our approach aligns with national policy, guidance and legislation.
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-proposed-plan-consultation-end Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan proposed-plan-consultation-end 2026-04-23 2027-12-21 Date of publication will depend on the duration of Gateway 2.
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-gateway-3-advice-sought Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan gateway-3-advice-sought 2026-04-23 2028-02-01 This 8?week consultation is on the final version of the plan and includes the proposed site allocations.
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-gateway-3-advice-published Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan gateway-3-advice-published 2026-04-23 2028-02-28 All comments (representations) on the proposed Local Plan consultation must be received on or before this date.
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-examination-submitted Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan examination-submitted 2026-04-23 2028-05-01 This new requirement is a final check by an external assessor to confirm the plan meets planning regulations and the tests of soundness, before formally submitting it for Examination.
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-examination-recommendations-published Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan examination-recommendations-published 2026-04-23 2028-09-30 Date of publication will depend on the duration of Gateway 3.
durham-county-council-new-local-plan-adopted Central Bedfordshire Local Plan 2050 county-durham-plan adopted 2026-04-23 2029-03-01 Unknown at this stage.