New Plan-Making System
The government requires the Council to enter the new plan making process by 30 June 2026 to respond to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and in accordance with the transitional provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.
The updated plan will be prepared in accordance with the new plan making process in that it must be produced within a 30 month formal period and will be in a predominantly digital format. The plan will set out a vision and spatial development strategy for the borough and focus on site allocations and local spatial policies. More general policies will be replaced by the national decision-making policies contained in the NPPF.
Notice of Intent to commence Local Plan Preparation
The council has given notice on 30 June 2026 of the intent to commence Local Plan preparation under the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 as set out below.
In accordance with The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, Part 4 Regulation 19, Hyndburn Borough Council (“the Council”), as Local Planning Authority, hereby gives notice of its intention to commence preparation of a new Local Plan.
The Local Plan will be known, throughout the plan-making process, as the Hyndburn Local Plan.
The Hyndburn Local Plan will cover the current administrative area of Hyndburn Borough ONS E07000120 as shown on the map below.
This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of her Majesty’s Stationery Office (C) Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. Hyndburn Borough Council OS Licence No. AC0000849943 202
View a copy of the Notice of Intent
Local Plan Timetable
Council has published a timetable setting out that it expects to start the 30-month plan preparation process on 31 October 2026. The Timetable came into effect on 30 June 2026 and will be reviewed periodically.
The CSV file contains data mandated by the Government under the Open Government Licence.
A copy of the Notice of Intent and the Local Plan timetable can be viewed at:
- Council’s Office – Scaitcliffe House, Ormerod Street, Accrington
- Accrington Library (St James’ Street, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 1NQ)
- Great Harwood Library (Queen Street, Great Harwood, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB6 7AL)
- Oswaldtwistle Library (Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington, BB5 3HS)
- Rishton Library (High Street, Rishton, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 4LA)
For further information please email: planningpolicy@hyndburnbc.gov.uk
Local Plan Schedule of Timetable Changes
August 2026 – updated consultation times in regard to the Scoping Consultation
Government CSV version timetable V2 amended 27 Aug
Scoping Consultation
The first stage of the new plan-making process is a Scoping Consultation.
This consultation was an opportunity for all those with an interest in how Hyndburn Borough will develop and look in the future to have their say. The Scoping Consultation document is set out below.
The consultation ran from 14 August 2026 to 11 September 2026
Scoping included considering how well the existing plan is working and gathering baseline information about the area. This is difficult for the Council as the present plan was only adopted on 16 July 2026 after the Council had to declare its intention to go into the new plan-making system. As the present local plan has just been through its public examination the Vision and Objectives in it would appear to be robust and required very little modification, though they will be amended in response to the Scoping Consultation exercise the Council has undertaken and the updates to national policy.
The Council has considered what local policies we could put in the Plan, and these were supported during the Scoping Consultation. These will be locally specific and will be supported by evidence. A local plan will require monitoring, but it is too early at this stage to set out what that would look like.
The new Local Plan will be much lighter in content that than the existing 2040 Adopted Local Plan because the 2026 National Planning Policy Framework adequately covers many matters and issues which would in the past have been in local plans. There will still be locational protections for matters such as biodiversity sites, open space, green space and heritage assets such as conservation areas to name a few.
From the Scoping Consultation the Council has produced an Engagement Strategy which can be found here Engagement Strategy September 2026
If you have any questions about the consultation please email the Planning Policy Team – planningpolicy@hyndburnbc.gov.uk
GATEWAY 1
Gateway 1 is the first mandatory readiness checkpoint in England`s new 30-month local plan-making system, established under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026. Details on the Council`s Gateway 1 self Assessment will be added here in due course.
Call For Sites
National planning policy requires every Local Planning Authority to assess the amount of land that is available for development in its area. This process is known as the Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA), previously known as the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, or SHLAA. The HELAA forms part of the evidence base for Local Plans and their reviews.
It is important to note that the HELAA does not represent council policy and will not determine whether a site should be allocated in the Local Plan. nor whether it will be granted planning permission.
In order to create a HELAA the Council is carrying out a Call for Sites exercise. This is a formal exercise run by local planning authorities to identify land potentially available for development. Local councils use these submissions to build an evidence base for housing, commercial development, and infrastructure to shape their long-term Local Plan.
Hyndburn Borough Council is preparing a new Local Plan which will guide future development and land use in the borough. The Council is keen to ensure that it has explored brownfield land (previously developed land) first before turning to land outside of this for future development. As part of this process the Council is seeking brownfield land which has the potential for development over the next 17 years for consideration and assessment as part of the preparation stages of the new Local Plan.
If you have any such land and wish the Council to consider it please complete the form below and send it to planningpolicy@hyndburnbc.gov.uk The form should be accompanied by a map with the site outlined in red. Please do not send in any other information at the present time.
CALL_FOR_SITES_BROWNFIELD_LAND
For details on other Planning Policy Matters click the link below