Section 18 Statement of community involvementF1I1
England and Wales
The local planning authority must prepare a statement of community involvement.
The statement of community involvement is a statement of the authority’s policy as to the involvement in the exercise of the authority’s functions under sections F213, 15, 19, 26 and 28 of this Act and Part 3 of the principal Act of persons who appear to the authority to have an interest in matters relating to development in their area.
F3Subject to subsection (2B), the reference in subsection (2) to functions under Part 3 of the principal Act does not include functions under any provision of that Act relating to neighbourhood development orders (including any function under any of sections 61F to 61H of that Act).
A statement of community involvement must set out the local planning authority's policies for giving advice or assistance under—
paragraph 3 of Schedule 4B to the principal Act (advice or assistance on proposals for making of neighbourhood development orders), and
paragraph 3 of Schedule A2 to this Act (advice or assistance on proposals for modification of neighbourhood development plans).
The reference in subsection (2B)(a) to Schedule 4B to the principal Act includes that Schedule as applied by section 38A(3) of this Act (process for making neighbourhood development plans).
Subsection (2B) applies regardless of whether, at any given time—
an area within the area of the authority has been designated as a neighbourhood area, or
there is a qualifying body which is entitled to submit proposals to the authority for the making by the authority of a neighbourhood development order or a neighbourhood development plan.
For the purposes of this Part (except sections 19(2) and 24) the statement of community involvement is a local development document.
This is subject to section 17(8).
The statement of community involvement must not be specified as a development plan document in the local development scheme.
The Secretary of State may by regulations prescribe matters to be addressed by a statement of community involvement in addition to the matters mentioned in subsection (2).
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Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Ss. 15A-15LH and cross-headings substituted for ss. 15-37 and cross-heading (3.3.2026 for the purpose of making regulations only, excluding ss. 15A-15AI, 15K and 15LE(2)(a)(b)(c)(k)(l)(3); 25.3.2026 in so far as not already in force for the insertion of ss. 15B(1)(2)(a)(c)-(i)(3)-(12), 15BA-15C, 15CA(1)-(6)(a)-(g)(i)(7)(8), 15CB-15EA, 15G-15HA, 15HC-15JB, 15L-15LD, 15LE(1)(2)(d)-(j)(m)-(p)(3)(4), 15LF-15LG and 15LH (in part), otherwise prosp.) by Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (c. 55), s. 255(3)(b), Sch. 7 (with s. 247); S.I. 2026/169, regs. 2, 3(b) (with Schs. 1, 2) (as amended by S.I. 2026/333, regs. 1(2), 2)
- F2
Words in s. 18(2) inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 31.7.2018 in so far as not already in force) by Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 (c. 20), ss. 13(2), 46(3); S.I. 2018/38, reg. 4(b) (with reg. 5)
- F3
Words in s. 18(2A) inserted (31.7.2018) by Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 (c. 20), ss. 6(2), 46(1); S.I. 2018/38, reg. 4(a)
- F4
S. 18(2B)-(2D) inserted (31.7.2018) by Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 (c. 20), ss. 6(3), 46(1); S.I. 2018/38, reg. 4(a)
- F5
S. 18(3) substituted (6.4.2009) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), ss. 180(4)(a), 241(8) (with s. 226); S.I. 2009/400, art. 3(e)
- F6
S. 18(3A) inserted (6.4.2009) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), ss. 180(4)(b), 241(8) (with s. 226); S.I. 2009/400, art. 3(e)
- F7
S. 18(3B) inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes) by Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 (c. 20), ss. 13(3), 46(3)
- F8
S. 18(4)-(6) repealed (6.4.2009) by Planning Act 2008 (c. 29), ss. 180(4)(c), 241(8), Sch. 13 (with s. 226); S.I. 2009/400, art. 3(e)(o), Sch. Pt. 1
Commencement
- I1
S. 18 in force at 28.9.2004 for E. by S.I. 2004/2202, art. 2(b)
Notes on Part 2
Modifications
- C1
Pt. 2 modified (temp.) (28.11.2008) by Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/2867), regs. 1(1), 21(1), 23(2) (with reg. 1(2))
- C2
Pt. 2 modified (25.3.2026) by The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Local Planning) (Modification and Consequential Amendments) (England) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/170), regs. 1(2), 7
- C3
Pt. 2 applied (25.3.2026) by The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/186), regs. 1(2), 78(8) (with Sch.)
- C4
Pt. 2 modified (16.4.2026) by S.I. 2026/170, reg. 7A (as inserted by The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (Local Planning) (Modification and Consequential Amendments) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/350), regs. 1(2), 2)