Six-week consultation on Peterborough Local Plan to begin

The final draft of Peterborough’s Local Plan will be put before the city council’s cabinet for approval before the public is invited to have its say.

Councillor Numan Ali Iqbal, cabinet member for growth and regeneration, said: "A Local Plan is at the heart of the planning system and provides a framework for guiding decisions on individual planning applications and identifies land for development, as well as areas where development should be restricted.

"We would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the consultation process so far which has enabled us to continue to refine the plan until we have this Proposed Submission Document."

If approved by the cabinet, the plan will be opened up to a final six-week public consultation in September and October.

The Local Plan is a key planning document that guides long-term development, protecting land while identifying areas for growth.

It typically covers a 15-year period and must be based on robust evidence reflecting the area’s economic, social, and environmental needs.

The proposed submission version has been revised following two earlier rounds of public feedback.

Once this final consultation begins, any new representations will be reviewed by an independent planning inspector rather than the council itself.

The council cannot make further changes to the document at this stage before it is submitted to the Government.

Objections raised must focus on why the plan is considered ‘unsound’ and what changes are required to address this.

Concerns raised in previous consultations will not automatically carry forward.

Anyone who still objects to the plan will need to resubmit their comments during this final stage if they want them to be considered.

The plan must be submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government by December 31, 2026.