New Local Plan to 2044
Eastleigh’s Local Plan is an important document. It will establish how many new homes and jobs are needed, where development should take place in the Borough, and how areas of countryside will be protected and enhanced.
Following the Government’s recent updates to the national planning system, the process of preparing a Local Plan has changed. We are required to formally begin the process under updated regulations. The Local Plan timetable has therefore changed, although the date we intend to adopt the plan remains the same.
However, all previous work by the Council, together with the results of the consultation, will continue to inform the Local Plan. The transition represents a change in process rather than a restart,
The first stage in the new Local Plan includes publishing a notice of intention to commence the Local Plan under the new system, as well as the revised timetable for its preparation:
The next stage will be a ‘Scoping Consultation’ in August and September 2026. This will invite feedback on the key issues the Local Plan should address, as well as how we should engage with communities during its preparation.
During the winter of 2024-25, the Council carried out an ‘Issues and Options’ public consultation where residents, businesses and stakeholders shared their views on key planning issues. The responses provided valuable insights to help shape the plan and a summary of the consultation responses will be published shortly.
While the scoping consultation will revisit some topics covered in the Issues and Options consultation, it will also provide updated information and seek additional input.
Alongside this engagement, the Council is continuing to gather the technical evidence required to support the Local Plan.
Information on previous Issues and Options consultation (2024/2025)