North Devon and Torridge District Council Local Plan Timetable: 'A plan for northern Devon'
This Local Plan Timetable replaces the previous Local Development Scheme and is published in accordance with Section 15B of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) and Regulations 4, 6 and 8 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.
Matters which the local plan is to deal with
The local plan - A Plan for Northern Devon - will be a comprehensive local plan providing a vision, objectives, policies and allocations of land, to manage development, enable and meet the future needs for development across the plan area, whist establishing appropriate protections, in accordance with the requirement set out in legislation and national planning policy. A scoping consultation will be undertaken to inform its detailed content.
Geographical area to which the plan is to relate
The geographical area to which the local plan relates is the entirety of the local planning authority areas of North Devon Council and Torridge District Council - North Devon LPA (E60000303) and Torridge LPA (E60000306). The area to which the plan relates excludes geographic area of Exmoor National Park Authority (E26000002) that resides within North Devon Council's area (E07000043), as covered by Exmoor National Park Local Planning Authority (E60000319).
Requirement in relation to design code
North Devon Council / Torridge District Council intends to set out the requirements with respect to design that relate to development, or development of a particular description, through the provisions of the local plan - including the vision, objectives, strategies, policies and allocations - whilst having regard to the development plan when read as a whole, alongside any other material considerations.
Whether the authority's local plan for their area is to be a joint local plan
The local plan for North Devon Council and Torridge District Council's areas will be a joint local plan, prepared jointly by North Devon Council and Torridge District Council.
Whether the authority is to prepare a joint supplementary plan
North Devon Council and Torridge District Council have no current intent to prepare any joint supplementary plans with any other local planning authority.
Any matter or area in respect of which the authority have agreed (or propose to agree) to the constitution of a joint committee
North Devon Council and Torridge District Council have not agreed (or propose to agree) to the constitution of a joint committee under section 15J(h) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended).
Notwithstanding the above, North Devon Council and Torridge District Council have formed a joint committee - the Joint Planning Policy Committee (JPPC), convened under sections 101(5) and 102 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and Sections 19 and 20 of the Local Government Act 2000 (as amended).
Timetable for the preparation of the authority's local plan for their area
The following sets out the timetable for the preparation of the local plan. The timetable will also be published in a format that that meets the requirements of the Planning Data (England) Regulations 2026 and associated statutory guidance.
Milestone | Date(s) | Associated Regulation(s) / Section(s) of Act |
Date on which notice of intention to commence local plan preparation will be made available | 30 June 2026 | Regulation 19(1) |
Date on which notice of scoping consultation will be made available | 30 June 2026 | Regulation 20(1) |
Date on or before which representations will have to be received by the local planning authority for the scoping consultation | 11 August 2026 | Regulation 20(4)
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Date on which the local planning authority will make their self-assessment summary available (Gateway 1) | 31 October 2026 | Regulation 21(3) |
Date on which the notice of plan content and evidence consultation will be made available [6 weeks] | 10 February 2027 | Regulation 23(1)(a) |
Date on or before which representations will have to be received for the consultation on proposed local plan content and evidence | 24 March 2027 | Regulation 23(4) |
Date on which observations and advice will be sought (Gateway 2) [4-6 weeks] | 1 September 2027 | Regulation 26 |
Date on which the notice of proposed local plan consultation will be made available [8 weeks] | 2 February 2028 | Regulation 27(1)(a) |
Date on or before which representations will have to be received by the local planning authority for the consultation on the proposed local plan | 29 March 2028 | Regulation 27(4) |
Date on which observations and advice will be sought (Gateway 3) [4-6 weeks] | 31 July 2028 | Regulation 31 |
Date on which the local planning authority will submit their proposed local plan to the Secretary of State for independent examination | 30 September 2028 | 15D(1) of Act |
Date on which the local planning authority will consider adopting the proposed local plan | 30 April 2029 | 15EA of Act |
Regulation(s) refer to The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026
Section(s) of the Act refer to The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended)
Supplementary plans which the authority are to prepare
North Devon Council and Torridge District Council have no current intent to prepare any separate supplementary plans, either together or with any other local planning authority.
Timetable for the preparation of any supplementary plans the authority are to make
North Devon Council and Torridge District Council have no timetables for the preparation of any supplementary plans.
Statement on Minerals and Waste
Matters relating to minerals and waste planning for the geographical areas of the North Devon Council and Torridge District Council local planning authorities are the responsibility of Devon County Council, as the relevant Minerals and Waste Planning Authority. Information on the scope, nature and timing of the Minerals and Waste Plan(s) will be a matter for Devon County Council and will be set out in their Minerals and Waste Plan Timetable.
Scope of Local Plan Timetable
For the avoidance of doubt, this timetable constitutes the formal local plan timetable for each of North Devon Council and Torridge District Council respectively, as required in accordance with section 15B of The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended).
Keeping the local plan timetable up-to-date
The local plan timetable will be updated no later than one month from when it is first published, and each month thereafter. It will also be updated on the same day that a relevant plan preparation stage occurs (these include the three Gateway Assessments and other occurrences).
Statement that the timetable is to have effect
The Local Plan Timetable (version 1) was approved by the Joint Planning Policy Committee (JPPC) on 24 April 2026 and has effect on 30 June 2026.
Approved data standard
In accordance with the Planning Data (England) Regulations 2026, the local plan timetable and plan data are published on this page using the approved data standard. This data is provided under the Open Government Licence.
Local Plan Timetable 30 June 2026 CSV File (csv file, 1 KB)
Local Plan CSV file for Torridge (csv file, 432 B)
Local Plan CSV file for North Devon (csv file, 434 B)
If required, details of the Local Plan timetable can be downloaded in PDF format: Local Plan Timetable 30 June 2026 (PDF, 326 KB)
Change History
Version | Date | Summary of Changes |
1 | 30 June 2026 | Initial Version |
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