New Local Plan – Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Local Plan

What is a Local Plan?

A Local Plan is prepared by a Local Planning Authority and shows how an area will be developed in the future. Local Plans set out the vision and framework for the future development of an area, seeking to address needs and opportunities in relation to housing, the economy, community facilities and infrastructure as well as safeguarding important environments. Local Plans provide policies which will guide decisions on whether planning applications can be granted and set out parameters for monitoring the success of policies.

The Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Local Plan (NBBLP) will focus on providing a clear vision and strategy for growth, identifying land for development where appropriate, and include locally specific planning policies. Earlier this year, the government consulted on the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (December 2025). It is anticipated the final version will be published in Summer 2026 and will provide national policies to guide decision making on a local level. The draft NPPF is clear that local planning policies should not repeat national policies or go beyond certain Building Regulation standards, instead the NBBLP Local Plan policies will focus on addressing the Borough’s own circumstances, priorities and places. Furthermore, the NBBLP will need to consider and align with the wider corporate priorities, values and objectives of NBBC as well as other relevant strategies.

Why does Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough need a new Local Plan when one was recently adopted?

Although the Borough Plan Review (BPR) was recently adopted in December 2025, the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 came into force in March 2026. The introduction of these Regulations means that some Councils with recently adopted plans, must begin preparing a new style Local Plan within a 30- month timeframe where the adopted plan does not meet the relevant housing need threshold due to the difference between the current and future number of the houses the Council must plan for.

As the current Borough Plan Review does not meet this threshold, NBBC must begin preparing a new Local Plan in line with national requirements and timescales. 

What is the process for preparing the new Local Plan?

At this early stage, we are running a Scoping Consultation, alongside a ‘Call for Sites’, to gather views on what the NBBLP should cover, how stakeholders and communities should be involved and to gain an understanding as to what land is available for development.

During this period, the Council will also be updating the evidence base to support the preparation of the NBBLP. This includes work already underway to update the Green Belt Assessment, Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment and further studies to provide a clearer understanding of the Council’s housing and employment needs.

The consultation responses that are received to the Scoping Consultation will contribute towards the Council’s work in preparing the NBBLP. There will also be further opportunities to comment on the emerging NBBLP and its policies, as these are developed later in the plan process. The table below provides an overview of the consultation stages involved:

The NBBLP Local Plan Timetable is also available to view and will be updated throughout the plan-making process. The timetable relates to the legally required stages of plan development.