The Council has been committed to preparing a Local Plan, having published draft versions for consultation in 2022, 2024, and 2025. However, over the last few years there have been a series of factors beyond our control which has made the process of producing a Local Plan (under the current plan making system) even more complex, to the extent where these issues have affected our ability to progress as envisaged.
The Government announced a series of Planning Reforms that led to the number of homes that we need to plan for increasing by 78%. This also resulted in us losing our five-year housing land supply position meaning it is very difficult to refuse planning applications on speculative sites. This undermines the plan led system.
We also faced the rare situation of landowners withdrawing promoted sites from the draft Local Plan, leading to a review of how we could meet our housing needs. This would have led to a need to carry out an additional consultation on any further new sites.
Government is also bringing forward Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation, as well as a new Local Plan making system. This has created uncertainty around the scope, timing and geography of the Local Plan, given that Test Valley will cease to exist in April 2028 and will be replaced by a Mid-Hampshire and South-West Hampshire authorities.
The cumulative impact of these factors means submitting a sound plan by the government's deadline of December 2026 has become unachievable. At Full Council on 22 July 2026, the Council decided it will move from progressing a Local Plan under the current ‘legacy’ plan making system to commencing one under the new ‘gateway’ plan making system. Following the Council decision, we will now commence work on a Local Plan that looks ahead that we can seek to align with future changes.
Further details can be found in the report that went to Full Council here with annex 1 of the report found here
TVBC July 2026
