Consultation and engagement

Consultation on Liverpool's Local Plan 2043 Regulation 19

Start date: Monday 10th August 2026
End date: Sunday 20th September 2026 (midnight)

What are we consulting on?

We are consulting on the Local Plan 'Regulation 19 publication'. This is the final formal stage of public consultation for our Local Plan before we submit it to government for independent examination.

At this stage of plan preparation, we are asking if you think Liverpool's Local Plan is legally compliant and meets the tests of 'soundness', as set out  in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2024) paragraphs 36-38.

If you believe something has not been done correctly or it does not meet the required standards, we would like to hear from you.

Local Plan and supporting information

Local plan policies can also be viewed on an interactive map.

View the Local Plan policies map

What does soundness and legal compliance mean?

The government requires all Local Plans to be 'sound'. This means it must be:

  • positively prepared (it must plan for enough homes, jobs and infrastructure to meet area needs)
  • justified (the decisions made must be based on solid evidence)
  • effective (the plan must be deliverable in practice)
  • consistent with national policy (it must follow government planning guidance)

The government requires all local plans to be legally compliant. This includes:

  • being prepared in accordance with the council's Local Development Scheme and its Statement of Community Involvement
  • being subject to a Sustainability Appraisal, Strategic Environmental Assessment, and a Habitat Regulations Assessment
  • policies designed to secure the development and use of land in the local planning authority's area contribute to the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.
  • being prepared in accordance with the Equality Act 2010 complying with all other relevant legal requirements including the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the 2012 regulations.

Visit GOV.UK for more information on 'soundness' and legal compliance.

How to comment

The quickest and easiest way to share your comments is online.

Have your say on Regulation 19 via the Citizen Space website

Alternatively, you can download a word version of the representation form below or access a paper copy at Cunard Building or any of our libraries, and send it to LLP@liverpool.gov.uk or by post to Liverpool City Council, Planning Policy Team, Second Floor, Cunard Building, Water Street, L3 1AH.

The closing date for comments is Sunday 20th September 2026 (midnight).  Comments received after the closing date may not be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate.

What happens to my views?

Anyone who submits comments will be notified of future stages. Copies of all comments received will be made available for the public to view and cannot be treated as confidential. For further information see our privacy notice.

Once this consultation has closed, we will review all comments and prepare and submit Liverpool's Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate. While we will compile a statement of the responses to the Local Plan Submission Draft consultation, we will not respond to them.

All comments received will be considered as part of a public examination by an independent planning inspector. Submitted comments are formal representations and respondents can request to be invited by the Inspector to participate at public hearing sessions during examination.

What happens next?

The Council will submit the Local Plan and associated documents to the Secretary of State for independent examination.

An independent planning inspector will be appointment to examine whether the Local Plan has been prepared in accordance with legal requirements and whether it is sound. As part of the examination, the inspector may hold public hearing sessions where invited participants can discuss matters raised through the consultation process.

Following the examination, the inspector will issue a report setting out their conclusions and, where necessary, any main modifications required to make the plan sound. If main modifications are recommended, we will undertake a further period of consultation on those changes before they are considered by the inspector.

Once the inspector's final report has been received and any required modifications have been incorporated, we will consider adopting the Local Plan. Subject to adoption by full council, the new Local Plan will replace policies contained within the current adopted Liverpool Local Plan (2022).

Further information

View further details on the Liverpool Local Plan 2043, including previous stages of consultation and the Local Plan evidence base.

If you have any questions about this consultation, please email LLP@liverpool.gov.uk