[UPDATE: For the subsequent legislation relating to this consultation, please view the following posts:
- This post for the Local Planning Regulations 2026.
- This post for the Planning Data Regulations 2026.
- This post for consequential amendments relating to the new plan-making system.
- This post for the legislation relating to infrastructure planning fees.
- This post for the legislation relating to the costs of independent examinations (standard daily amount).
- This post for the legislation relating to the requirement to assist with certain plan making.]

The government has published the following response to the consultation titled "Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill - consultation on implementation of plan-making reforms" (which ran for 12 weeks from 25/07/2023 until 18/10/2023):

Response document:

• February 2025: Government response to the proposed plan-making reforms - consultation on implementation (link) (pdf print version of HTML webpage).

Notes:

• The "Introduction" at the start of the above response document includes the following information:
  - "The consultation set out the previous government’s proposals and direction of travel for the implementation of certain key aspects of a new plan-making system. It sought views on our proposals to implement parts of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 ("LURA") which relate to plan-making, to make local plans and minerals and waste plans simpler, faster to prepare and more accessible.".
  - "Sustained economic growth is central to the government’s Plan for Change. It is the only way to increase the prosperity of our country and improve the living standards of working people. Reform is critical to delivering this growth and nowhere is it needed more urgently than in our planning system.".
  - "Alongside amending the National Planning Policy Framework, this government is committed to universal, ambitious local plan coverage. Local plans spell out where development will and will not take place and are the primary means for ensuring communities are able to shape development in their areas, bringing certainty to all users of the planning system. However, currently fewer than one third of local planning authorities have an up-to-date local plan in place. The government remains committed to introducing a new, faster and clearer process for preparing plans. This will be essential to deliver and maintain universal plan coverage across England, supporting the government’s wider commitments to deliver the development the country needs.".
  - "This response sets out how the government intends to proceed with the proposals included in the previous consultation, to implement the new plan-making system, as provided for by the [Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023]. Our approach has been shaped by the detailed feedback received through the previous consultation, which was published by the previous government on 25 July 2023, and the priorities and commitments made by this government. This update sets out a response to each of the 43 questions posed in that consultation.".
  - "The government published a consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system on 30 July 2024. [(link)] This response should be read alongside the government’s response to that consultation [(link)], which sets out the government’s approach to revising the National Planning Policy Framework to achieve sustainable growth in our planning system. This includes changes to how local planning authorities plan for homes through local plans; a revised approach to releasing land for development; and policy changes to support more effective co-operation on cross boundary and strategic planning matters. Additionally, and of relevance to this update, it provides further clarity of key timings for rolling out the new plan-making system and updates the position on the wider rollout of Spatial Development Strategies across England.".

Other sources of information:

• July 2023: Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill - consultation on implementation of plan-making reforms (link) (pdf print version of HTML webpage).
  - Note: For more information about the above document, please view this post.
• February 2025: Government press release - "Planning overhaul to speed up and simplify local plans" (link).