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As we are at the midway point this year, I thought it would be beneficial to provide an overview of the relevant planning updates in our area.

Huntingdonshire District Council

Further to the Council’s Preferred Options draft Local Plan to 2046 consultation late last year, it has now consulted on several additional sites in locations such as Spaldwick, Catworth, Ellington, Grafham, Ramsey, and Bythorn. The next steps are expected in Quarter 3/4 of this year, when the Council will invite comments on the draft Local Plan, which it intends to submit to formal Public Examination, aiming for adoption in 2028.

Bedford Borough Council

After the Council’s emerging Local Plan 2040 was withdrawn from Examination last year, following the Government deeming it unsound, the Council is now working on a new Local Plan. We are anticipating a ‘Call for Sites’ exercise in the next few months, and this will be a fantastic opportunity for landowners to put forward sites that they feel have development potential, and these will be considered as part of the Council’s new Plan. The Council has the proposed Universal theme park on the horizon, and any future Local Plan needs to account for how this will impact Bedfordshire in the years to come.

Central Bedfordshire Council

The Council is underway with its Local Plan which it expects to have adopted by the end of 2028. In July, any sites submitted as part of its previous ‘Call for Sites’ exercise will be consulted on, and after this, there will be opportunities to comment on the draft Local Plan before it is issued to the Secretary of State for independent examination in 2028.

Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Council

Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council are working together to create the first joint Local Plan for Greater Cambridge. This document was consulted on in early 2026 and the proposed allocations and designations can be reviewed on their online portal. The comments from the consultation are now being considered and the two Councils are hoping to be able to submit their joint Local Plan for examination towards the end of this year.

Buckinghamshire Council

Since becoming a unitary council in 2020, Buckinghamshire Council has been working on producing its first Buckinghamshire Local Plan. It is hoping to consult on its Regulation 19 consultation in July and has a draft Local Plan ready to be examined at the end of this year.

Milton Keynes Council

MK City Plan 2050 is currently being examined, and Milton Keynes Council is hoping to hear back on any modification required. The Council expects to have its new Local Plan adopted at the end of this year, subject to the proposed Local Plan being accepted by the Inspector.

North Northamptonshire Council

Following a Call for Sites exercise, the Council is now looking to shape its Local Plan 2045. This proposed new Local Plan will replace the North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy Local Plan Part 1 and  Part 2 which were adopted for the former Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, and East Northamptonshire areas. The Council will look to consult on its draft Local Plan towards the end of this year, aiming for adoption by Quarter 1 of 2029.

In short, many of the counties within our patch are progressing their Local Plans to protect their positions, given the ever-increasing need to build thousands of houses and improve infrastructure. Please contact me if you have any land which you feel might have development potential.