Recent changes to national planning rules by the government mean all local authorities must begin work this year on a new local plan, which will shape where new homes are built up to 2045.
City of Wolverhampton Council is therefore legally required to publish a ‘Local Plan Timetable and a Notice of Intention to Commence Local Plan Preparation’ by June 30, 2026, followed by a statutory 34-month preparation timetable.
The new ‘Wolverhampton Plan’ process will run alongside the current ‘Wolverhampton Local Plan’, which is awaiting the outcome - expected later this year - of an independent examination by the planning inspectorate under the government’s previous plan-making system.
Both plans identify environmental areas to protect and enhance, sites to allocate for housing development and employment use, key transport schemes and policies to guide design and secure infrastructure.
The Cabinet will consider the proposed Wolverhampton Plan timetable at its meeting on Wednesday, June 10.
If approved, the next stage for the new Wolverhampton Plan would then be a Scoping Consultation - which must take place during summer 2026 – to seek views on the proposed scope of the plan and what it will replace, any supporting evidence that may be required to inform the plan, and a community engagement strategy for the plan preparation process.
City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “It remains critical to have a local plan in place to provide certainty for our communities and support regeneration and investment in our city.
“The revised National Planning Policy Framework means we are now legally required to develop a local plan that fits the new government plan-making system – and this cabinet report is the start of that process.
“In the meantime, we await the outcome of the local plan we submitted under the previous plan-making system.
“Both plans will help facilitate a vibrant mixed use city centre and enable new housing and employment opportunities on brownfield sites across the city, supporting local centres and strengthening the local economy.”
