Local Plan TIMETABLE (2026-2041)

Local Plan Review Timetable

This page sets out the Council of the Isles of Scilly’s Local Plan Timetable in accordance with Regulation 4 and Regulation 8 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/186) which came into effect on the 24 March 2026. It provides the statutory timetable for the preparation of the Isles of Scilly Local Plan 2026–2041 and will be revised as required under Regulation 6 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026. The timetable below corresponds to the live Local Plan: Project Initiation Document (PID) which can be read here and our Statement of Community Involvement (2024). The timetable follows the Government’s new 30‑month plan‑making system and reflects the high‑level programme approved by Full Council in February 2026. It will be updated at each Gateway stage as the project progresses.

Statutory Basis

This timetable includes all plan‑making stages required under Regulations 19–31 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 and is published in accordance with Regulation 8.

Isles of Scilly Local Plan 2026-2041 Timetable 

 Dates

Stage 0: Pre-Commencement Preparatory Work

 Spring-Autumn 2026

Key activities:

Community involvement:
✔️ Public engagement: Non-Statutory on key themes  (until 17/04/2026)

(to keep up to date on consultations please sign up to our Local Plan Consultation Database)

 

 

 

March 2026

 

April 2026
Gateway 1: Self Assessment | Start of the 30 month Local Plan Period | Regulation 21 September 2026

Stage 1: Scoping (Months 1-6) 

 October 2026 - March 2027

Key activities:

  • Early stage visioning and strategy
  • Vision and strategic options
  • Initial evidence base review (iterative IIA, HENA, CAAMP, SFRA, CCMA, LCRPA, RECS)
  • Publication of summary of scoping consultation | Regulation 22

Community involvement:
✔️ Public engagement: Regulation 20 Public Consultation: Vision and Strategic Options

 

 

 

 

Summer 2026

Stage 2: Draft Plan Preparation (Months 7-12) | Regulation 23 

 April - October 2027

Key activities: 

  • Draft plan preparation
  • Site assessments
  • Strategic policy drafting
  • Draft spatial strategy
  • Draft Policies Map
  • Prepare draft plan for Gateway 2
  
Gateway 2: MHCLG review of Draft Plan | Regulation 26 October 2027

Stage 3: Publication and Submission (Months 13-18) | Regulation 30

 October 2027- March 2028

Key activities

  • Publish Local Plan for submission
  • Analyse representations
  • Finalise submission documents (IIA, Duty to Cooperate, Consultation Statement)
  • Submit to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS)
  • Gateway 3: Submission
  • Publish Policies Map
  • Publish Evidence List
  • Publish Consultation Reports

Statutory community involvement:
✔️ Formal publication for representations | Regulation 27 
✔️ Minimum 8‑week consultation | Regulation 27 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring 2028
Gateway 3: Submission of the Local Plan to the Secretary of State | Regulation 31 March 2028

Stage 4: Examination (Months 19-24) | Regulations 34-39

 April - September 2028

Key activities 

  • Independent Examination
  • Examination hearings
  • Main Modifications (if required)
  • Consultation on Main Modifications (if required)
  • Receipt of Inspector’s Final Report

Community involvement:
✔️ Attend Examination hearings (public)
✔️ Representations on Main Modifications (if required)

  

Stage 5: Adoption  (Months 25-30)

 October 2028 - March 2029

Key activities

  • Adoption by Full Council
  • Publication of Adoption Statement
  • Update Digital Local Plan
  • Begin monitoring cycle

Community involvement:
✔️ Local Plan available for inspection
✔️ Community notified of adoption

  

Revisions and Updating

This timetable will be reviewed and updated as required under Regulation 6 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026. Where changes to expected dates occur, a revised timetable will be published on this webpage.

Page Updated: 01/04/2026