Progression of the Draft Local Plan
The council is preparing a new Local Plan that will guide development in the borough until 2038. This plan was submitted to the Secretary of State for formal examination on Monday 16 February 2026. Further information is available on the Local Plan examination page.
What is the Local Plan and why are we reviewing it?
As the council’s most important planning document, the Local Plan is used to guide decisions on planning applications in the borough. This means that if someone wants to develop a new building or change its use, they should make sure it follows the policies in the Local Plan.
The current Local Plan was adopted in January 2020. A number of the objectives, policies and guidance in this plan are now considered outdated as national and regional guidance has been updated. Once adopted, this new plan will replace the currently adopted plan.
Weight given to the draft Local Plan
Whilst the plan submitted to the Secretary of State is at an advanced stage, its text and policies are still in draft form. Currently, the policies in the draft Local Plan have limited weight assigned to them when making planning decisions.
The importance given to policies in the draft Local Plan is based on national guidance. This guidance says the weight depends on three things:
- how far along the plan is in its preparation
- whether there are unresolved objections to the policies
- how closely the draft policies match national planning policies (NPPF).
Until the new Local Plan is officially adopted, the current Tower Hamlets Local Plan (2020) and the London Plan (2021) remain the main documents used to decide planning applications. In some areas, the London Legacy Development Corporation Local Plan (2020) also applies.
Next steps
Typical examination process
1 Initial assessment
Inspector reviews submission
2 Written questions
Inspector's matters, inssues and questions
3 Hearing sessions
Public discussions of main issues
4 Main modifications
Changes needed to make the plan sound
5 Final report
Inspector's conclusions and recommendations
6 Adoption
LPA decision to adopt modified plan
As the plan has now been submitted to the Secretary of State for formal examination, an independent planning inspector will now be appointed to review the plan and suggest any changes needed before it can be approved and adopted.
The plan will need to undergo an Examination in Public (EiP) where it will be examined to ensure it is ‘sound’ and legally compliant. Plans are considered ‘sound’ if they meet the following criteria:
- positively prepared
- justified
- effective
- consistent with national policy
Further information can be found in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2024 within the Examining Plans chapter.
After the public examination, there is usually a ‘Main Modifications’ consultation on any major changes recommended by the Inspector.
Throughout the hearings, the Inspector will explore the potential for main modifications to the plan to resolve any soundness and legal compliance issues. These modifications will be subject to public consultation.
Following this, the Inspector will issue a report. If the report states the plan is ‘sound’, the council can adopt it subject to Full Council approval.
We currently expect the plan to be adopted in late 2026 or early 2027, but this depends on how long the examination takes and the availability of inspectors.
Once the plan has been examined and adopted, it will replace the current Local Plan.
Overview of key stages
Early engagement - Early 2023
You helped us understand the issues we needed to tackle and finalise the vision and objectives.
Regulation 18 - Autumn/Winter 2023
We asked for your thoughts on the options we identified to tackle the issues, along with potential locations for future development.
Regulation 19 – Autumn/Winter 2024
We asked you for your thoughts on our proposed plan.
Regulation 19 (Focused consultation) – Summer 2025
We asked you for your thoughts on three policies and five site allocations (and the evidence supporting them).
Plan submitted – February 2026 (current stage) ««
The plan was submitted to the Secretary of State on Monday 16 February 2026.
Examination - 2026
An independent planning inspector will examine the plan, evidence and the comments made, to test if it is 'sound'.
Adoption - late 2026 or early 2027
The plan will be adopted and used to inform decisions on planning applications.
