Pre- commencement
Period for evidence gathering for the local plan.
Awaiting national guidance.
Local Development Scheme - 3. Planning policy documents being prepared
Development Plan Document – the Walsall Borough Local Plan
3.1
The Walsall Borough Local Plan (‘WBLP’) is being prepared after the Black Country Plan (‘BCP’) was demised in October 2022. The BCP was being progressed jointly by the four Black Country authorities: Dudley Council, Sandwell Council, Walsall Council, and City of Wolverhampton Council. Following work ceasing on the BCP, each of the individual BCAs confirmed that they would be progressing individual local plans, while cooperating with each other on cross boundary and strategic planning matters. Walsall Council agreed to start work on the WBLP in November 2022.
3.2
The WBLP is being prepared under the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004), Levelling up and Regeneration Act 2023 and National Planning Policy Framework (‘the Framework’) (December 2024), and associated secondary legislation and national guidance. The Council intends to submit the WBLP to the Secretary of State for independent examination by 31 December 2026, in accordance with the transitional arrangement for plans prepared under the existing plan-making system (NPPF December 2024).
3.3
The Council completed the Regulation 18 consultation stage in December 2025 and has considered the representations received in preparing the publication version of the WBLP.
3.4
The timetable for the preparation of the WBLP has been revised to reflect changes to the programme for preparing the publication version of the Plan. The Regulation 19 publication and consultation stage, originally anticipated for Summer 2026, has been moved to the 21 September 2026 – 2 November 2026. This has subsequently shifted the preparing for submission date and submission date.
3.5
Once formally adopted, the WBLP will form one single plan that contains the policies and site allocations for the whole of the borough and will supersede the existing development plan documents. This will simplify the existing structure of four adopted development plans (BCCS, SAD, AAP, and UDP) by having all of the policies and site allocations under one development plan.
3.6
The local plan timetable for preparation of the WBLP is set out below:
Timetable for preparation of the Walsall Borough Local Plan
January 2025
January 2025 to Autumn 2025
Regulation 18
Hybrid issues and options stage.
Consider how best to address issues through drafting of plan.
Autumn 2025
Preferred Options
6-week consultation period where the preferred policies to deliver the plans objectives are discussed.
Autumn 2025 to September 2026
Regulation 19
We will complete a draft local plan publication document based on the evidence collected. To be published.
21 September 2026 to 2 November 2026
Consultation
6-week consultation period on the publication document. The community and key stakeholders can comment.
November 2026 to December 2026
Preparing the Submission
We will prepare the final local plan Amendments will be based on consultations and evidence collected.
31 December 2026
Submission
We will submit the plan and evidence to the Government Planning Inspectorate for examination. This will progress to forma adoption.