We have now seen the first wave of ‘Regulation 20’ scoping consultations undertaken by local planning authorities producing their Local Plans under the new system. Given the variety of efforts to publicise, we have read as many as we have found, and can already note the huge variety in consultations... ...Here, they are remarkably consistent: only a very small number set out how the LPA intends neighbourhood plans to complement their Local Plans.

The Government has published a suite of ‘working papers’ on aspects of its planning reform proposals. We take a look at each to come to a view on how well they have understood the issues and how well their proposals might work, from a local community perspective.