Document Status
Current
Supplement
Sustainability, Environment, Development & Planning
Abstract
Explains how gateway assessments and examinations of local plans are carried out by the Planning Inspectorate. Covers: overview; plan preparation and gateways; submission; initial assessment and organisation of the hearing sessions; preparation for the hearing sessions; conduct of the hearing sessions; main modifications to the plan; examination pauses; inspector's reports and recommendations; consistency quality assurance, fact-check procedure and delivery of reports to the local planning authority; and other procedures.
History
Last updated: 29 June 2026 - Updated to reflects a minor procedural clarification to paragraph 3.5.1 and the Gateway 2 Process Overview. Sourced from: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/procedural-guide-for-examinations-and-gateways-under-the-town-and-country-planning-local-planning-england-regulations-2026 and converted to pdf. Whilst we endeavour to capture all updates it is subject to receiving alerts from the publisher and there may be formatting or punctuation changes applied to the html version that do not affect the text. Document type: guidance. First published: 18 June 2026.
Subjects
- Planning and development
- Planning control
- Planning control, England
Publisher History
The Planning Inspectorate processes planning and enforcement appeals and holding examinations into regional spatial strategies and local development plans.