{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/town-and-country-planning-local-planning-england-regulations-2026/regulation-20",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/town-and-country-planning-local-planning-england-regulations-2026/regulation-20.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2026/186",
  "legislation_title": "The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/town-and-country-planning-local-planning-england-regulations-2026",
  "path": "regulation/20",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "20",
  "heading": "Scoping consultation: local plan",
  "text": "(1) No earlier than on the date on which a local planning authority make their notice of intention to commence local plan preparation available under regulation 19(1), the authority must—\n(a) invite each of the bodies specified in paragraph (2) to make representations to the local planning authority about—\n(i) such matters relevant to the preparation of the local plan as the authority or body consider appropriate, including what the plan should contain, and\n(ii) how the authority should engage with them in the preparation of the local plan, and\n(b) make a notice of scoping consultation available in accordance with regulation 88.\n(2) The bodies specified in this paragraph are—\n(a) such of the general consultation bodies as the local planning authority consider appropriate, and\n(b) such of the specific consultation bodies as the local planning authority consider may have an interest in the preparation of the local plan.\n(3) Any person may make representations to a local planning authority about the matters set out at paragraph (1)(a)(i) and (ii).\n(4) Any representations made under this regulation must be received by the local planning authority by the date specified in the notice of scoping consultation.\n(5) In this regulation, “notice of scoping consultation” means a notice specifying—\n(a) the matters which the local planning authority have invited representations about under paragraph (1)(a)(i) and (ii),\n(b) the date on or before which representations about the matters set out in paragraph (1)(a)(i) and (ii) must be received by the local planning authority,\n(c) the address to which representations about the matters set out in paragraph (1)(a)(i) and (ii) may be made, and\n(d) that representations about the matters set out in paragraph (1)(a)(i) and (ii) may be accompanied by a request to be notified at a specified address when one or more of the following steps occur—\n(i) the making available of proposed local plan content and evidence under regulation 23(1)(b) (consultation on proposed local plan content and evidence);\n(ii) the publication of observations or advice under section 15CA(5) of the Act;\n(iii) the making available of the proposed local plan submission documents under regulation 27(1)(b) (consultation on the proposed local plan);\n(iv) the submission of the proposed local plan to the Secretary of State for independent examination under section 15D(1) of the Act;\n(v) the making available of the matters specified in regulation 35(2) in accordance with regulation 35(1)(a) (independent examination: local plans);\n(vi) a decision of the examiner under section 15D(7) of the Act that the examination under that section is to be paused under section 15DA of the Act for further work to be carried out;\n(vii) the publication under section 15DA(7) of the Act of the document and any evidence which is sent to the examiner under section 15DA(6);\n(viii) the publication of the recommendations and reasons of the examiner received under section 15D or section 15DA of the Act, in accordance with section 15D(13) or section 15DA(10);\n(ix) the adoption or approval of the local plan under Part 2 of the Act.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/186/regulation/20",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T21:05:31.026098+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}