Neighbourhood plan project planner

Neighbourhood plan project planner

Neighbourhood planners may use this tool to schedule the stages of a neighbourhood plan.
It contains an customisable planner that you can use to set out the stages of a neighbourhood plan.

We are currently updating our guidance and toolkits. This toolkit is provided for reference but has not yet been updated to reflect recent changes to planning policy. It remains useful as background information, but regularly check the neighbourhood planning page for updates to neighbourhood planning policy and guidance.

## Neighbourhood plan project planner
Neighbourhood Plan Project Planner A toolkit for neighbourhood planners © Crown copyright, 2026 Copyright in the typographical arrangement rests with the Crown. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ This document/publication is also available on our website at www.gov.uk/mhclg If you have any enquiries regarding this document/publication, complete the form at http://forms.communities.gov.uk/or write to us at: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Fry Building 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF Telephone: 030 3444 0000 For all our latest news and updates follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhclg April 2026 Neighbourhood Plan Project Planner Project/Event: Neighbourhood Plan Name: Organiser: Organisation Name: Project Phase Proposed start date Proposed end date Actual start date Actual end date Any comments Getting started Clarify if a plan is needed [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Publicise the intention to produce a plan and contact key local partners [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Speak to the Local Planning Authority [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Neighbourhood Area Consult and determine neighbourhood area [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Submit Neighbourhood Area Application to the Local Planning Authority [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Decision on Neighbourhood Area by Local Planning Authority [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Neighbourhood Forum Set up and promote a Neighbourhood Forum [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Develop a forum constitution [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Submit forum proposal to Local Planning Authority [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Decision on Neighbourhood Forum by Local Planning Authority [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] For parish councils – establish a steering group (if necessary) and associated terms of reference [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Early Stage Plan Development Activities Initial meetings/discussions with Local Planning Authority to identify scope of their support [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Develop a community engagement strategy [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Engagement [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Establish plan scope and formulate draft vision and objectives [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Building the Evidence Base Meetings/discussions with Local Planning Authority on types of evidence already available and where this can be accessed or contact details of agencies who hold the data [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Review existing evidence and Identify and develop further evidence required [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Meetings/discussions with Local Planning Authority to discuss whether Strategic Environmental Assessment or Habitats Regulation Assessments are required for the plan [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Writing the Plan Further develop and refine the issues, vision, aims and objectives as a result of ongoing engagement and evidence gathering [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Translate the vision and aims in to policies and proposals [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Check that your neighbourhood plan policies are in general conformity with the strategic policies in the local plan and the National Planning Policy Framework [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] If Strategic Environmental Assessment is required- production of associated environmental report (this should be consulted on during the pre-submission consultation of the draft plan) [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Update draft plan if required following the outcomes of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Pre-submission consultation [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Make relevant amendments to plan as a result of pre-submission consultation [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Prepare basic conditions and consultation statements [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Submit plan and associated documents required to the Local Planning Authority [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Independent Examination Meet with Local Planning Authority to discuss appointment of examiner and timescales for referendum [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Regulation 16 consultation (minimum 6 weeks and led by the Local Planning Authority) [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Examination [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Examiners report published [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Meetings/discussions with Local Planning Authority on the suggested recommendations and modifications to the plan (if any) within the examiner’s report and next steps [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Referendum Publication of pre-Referendum information and documents [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Referendum [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Publication of Referendum decision [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] Neighbourhood plan is ‘made’ [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date] [Select Date]