Purpose

The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 laid before Parliament on 4 March 2026 and effective from 25 March 2026 require the Council to publish a Notice of Intention to Commence a Local Plan by 30 June 2026, at least four months before commencement of formal plan making (Gateway 1 Self Assessment) by 31 October 2026.

Decision

Resolved – That

1. The work on a New Local Plan be commenced starting with the publication of the Council’s formal ‘Notice of Intention to Commence’ by 30 June 2026 (as set out in Appendix 1) in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 (the 2026 Regulations).

1. Delegated authority be given to the Assistant Director - Chief Planner to

a.  publish the timetable for the preparation of the new Local Plan as set out in Table 1 and Appendix 2 of this report and authorise its submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and its publication by 30 June 2026, in accordance with Regulations 4 and 8 of the 2026 Regulations; and

b.  withdraw the existing Wirral Borough Council Local Development Scheme dated February 2025 upon publication of the new local plan timetable.

c.  revoke the 2021 Wirral Borough Council Statement of Community Involvement as far as it relates to plan making upon the revocation of the requirement for a statement of community involvement as part of the local plan making process.

1. delegated authority be given to the Assistant Director – Chief Planner in consultation with Chair and Party Spokespersons of this Committee to approve, publish and submit documents and notices required by the Wirral Local Plan timetable, including to:

a.  approve updates and publish the Wirral Local Plan timetable monthly and as required under the 2026 Regulations, including in response to any issues arising from the plan preparation process to ensure an up-to-date timetable is publicly available, in accordance with Regulation 6 of the 2026 Regulations;

b.  agree the content of, and commencement of consultation on, the Local Plan scoping, preparation for Strategic Environmental Assessment, engagement strategy, and relevant notices, for publication in July 2026 for 3 weeks in accordance with Regulation 20 of the 2026 Regulations;

c.  approve, submit and publish required documents for Gateway 1 self – assessment by 31 October 2026 in accordance with Regulation 21 and 22 of the 2026 Regulations;

d.  approve and publish the summary of scoping consultation in accordance with Regulation 22 of the 2026 Regulations;

e.  agree the content of, and commencement of consultation on, proposed Local Plan content and evidence, including a draft Vision, proposed spatial strategy and any associated evidence base documents, and relevant notices, in accordance with Regulation 23 of the 2026 Regulations;

f.  approve and publish the summary of consultation on proposed local plan content and evidence in accordance with Regulation 24 of the 2026 Regulations; and

g.  approve, submit and publish documents and notices required by the Wirral Local Plan timetable, for Gateway 2 in accordance with Regulation 26 of the 2026 Regulations.

1. A Local Plan Working Group be established with indicative terms of reference as set out in Appendix 3 to this report subject to the membership being comprised of the Chair and Spokespersons of this Committee; and

1. the Director of Corporate Services be authorised to finalise the terms of reference of the Local Plan Working Group in consultation with the Chair and Spokespersons of this Committee.