Have Your Say: free online seminar on the new local plan system for town and parish councils

Local plans are changing. Join our seminar in July on the reforms, devolution, neighbourhood plans & more for parishes and towns — plus live Q&A.

The New Local Plan System: What It Means for Town and Parish Councils

Date: Tuesday 14th July 2026

Time: 1.00 - 2.00pm

Cost: FREE

Booking: https://HaveYourSayTPCNewLocalPlanSystem.eventbrite.co.uk

The local plan system has changed fundamentally. The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 introduced a new four-stage plan-making process that every local planning authority in England must now follow — and for the first time, the rules governing when and how you can have your say are written clearly into statute.

That means town and parish councils have a genuine opportunity to influence what gets built in their communities. But the window at each stage is short, the consultation periods are tight, and most of the guidance published so far makes no mention of neighbourhood plans at all.

This free one-hour seminar, led by ONH's qualified professional town planners (and ex-clerks!), is designed specifically for council officers and members who want to understand the new system and know what to do about it. We will walk you through the four statutory stages of the new local plan process — from the scoping consultation right through to examination — explaining at each point what your council can and should do. We will cover the tactical choices councils face, including how the new system interacts with neighbourhood plans and where your intervention will carry most weight. And we will set out the practical steps you can take right now, whatever stage the local plan in your area has reached.

The seminar is free to attend and open to all town and parish council officers and members. Whether your authority is already engaged with a neighbourhood plan or approaching the new system from scratch, this session will give you the knowledge to engage effectively and protect your community's interests.

The seminar will close with a live Q&A - so please bring your questions with you!