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Baselining involves gathering data and information, and carrying out analysis to inform the early stages of plan-making. This will give you information that contributes to:ÌýÌý

• shaping the direction of your early plan-makingÌý

• drafting a visionÌýÌý

• scoping and preparing your evidence base Ìý

• scoping your environmental report for your Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), if requiredÌý

Baselining will also help you meet the ‘survey of area’ requirement set out in section 13 of the .ÌýÌý

This guidance sets out our recommended approach to baselining. It is not exhaustive, and it is for you to decide what data, analysis and mapping will be most useful to inform the evidence you gather for your plan.ÌýÌý

The guidance is aimed at local planning authorities (LPAs).

When to carry out baselining Ìý

You should carry out baselining before passing through Gateway 1 and starting the 30-month plan-making process.

It would naturally beÌýcarried outÌýin tandem withÌýactivities such asÌýmonitoringÌýyourÌýexistingÌýlocal plan and the process ofÌýdraftingÌýa visionÌýfor your new local plan.

There are also overlaps with the gathering of data to inform yourÌýSEA.

See the 30-month process overview to see more detail about where baselining fits into the wider plan-making process.

Collect data and analyse trendsÌý

The first step in baselining is collecting data. You shouldÌýcollect andÌýanalyseÌýdata thatÌýshows the:ÌýÌý

• current picture of your area,Ìýinformed partly by theÌýdata you will have collected throughÌýmonitoringÌýyourÌýexistingÌýlocal planÌý

• potentialÌýfutureÌýpicture of your areaÌý(for example,Ìýdata onÌýfutureÌýdevelopment needs andÌýproposed infrastructure developments)

The current picture of your area

Data you could collect	Source you could use
Population change overall, in different age groups, and household size
Levels of deprivation across the area	English indices of deprivation - °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï
Economic change – number of jobs and workforce job change
Progress to deliver existing housing and employment allocations	LPA monitoring
Overall housing delivery compared to the adopted housing requirement	LPA monitoring
Affordable housing delivery compared to previously assessed need (that informed the adopted plan)	LPA monitoring
Specialist housing delivery - including elderly, student, build to rent, and co-living housing	LPA monitoring
Gypsy and Traveller plot delivery	LPA monitoring
Change to the median workplace-based housing affordability ratio
Key infrastructure delivery - including transport, education, health, utilities, and energy	LPA monitoring
Transport trends – including travel to work, car ownership	Ìý
Transport connectivity	Connectivity Tool - °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï
Environmental assets and patterns – including flood risk, accessibility to green space, air quality, conservation designations, habitats, effects of climate change	New national flood and coastal erosion risk information - °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï Access to green space in England - °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï

The potential future picture of your area

Data you could collect	Source you could use
Local Housing Need, calculated using the standard method	Dwelling stock: Live tables on dwelling stock (including vacants) - °Ç¸ç³Ô¹ÏÌý Median workplace-based affordability ratios:
Likelihood of unmet housing need (or other types of need where information exists) and if so, what level it might be at	Discussions with neighbouring and other relevant authorities
Population projections (overall and by age)
Known or potential transport, infrastructure, or other key investments and known capacity issues	Early engagement on the plans and strategies of infrastructure providers and other relevant public authorities National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA)

Where national datasets are not available, you should draw on any locally or sub-nationally produced data. For example,Ìýyou may have localÌýdata about economicÌýneeds, retail needs and gypsy and traveller needs, whichÌýwillÌýalsoÌýhelp develop a pictureÌýforÌýthe future of your area.ÌýIf there is aÌýspatial development strategy in place for the area,ÌýthisÌýmayÌýinclude dataÌýand evidenceÌýon future development needsÌýand requirements, andÌýonÌýotherÌýplanning matters relevant to your plan.

MHCLG isÌýalso gradually adding more data to the , which you could use to support baselining.

Map your area

Once you’ve gathered the data you need, begin mapping your area. If you can, use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to do so. Ìý

Depending on the context and scale of your area, not all of the items below may be relevant.Ìý

We recommend that you map:ÌýÌý

• settlement boundaries - taking account of both existing allocations and planning permissions where either is on the urban edgeÌý

• existing broad locations and opportunity area boundaries from your previous plan - including those in the urban areaÌý

• any relevant planning constraintsÌý

• key local infrastructure that may include public transport connections, key roads and junctions, airports, GP practices, hospitals, primary and secondary schools, key energy facilities and key utilities Ìý

• planned projects for transport, infrastructure, or other key investments

Example from an LPA

South West Hertfordshire authorities mapped data about their area in a digital tool: the .Ìý

Users can access layers of information, data and narratives to develop insights on topics like the environment, economy and infrastructure.ÌýÌý

This is an illustration of one approach. It is not an endorsement or instruction to follow this exact method – you should do what works best for your authority.Ìý

This project was funded by .

Review relevant wider priorities and strategies

Alongside these activities, you should also gather and review:ÌýÌý

• your wider corporate priorities, values and objectives and the implications of these spatiallyÌýÌýÌý

• other relevant strategies including local transport plans, housing and economic development strategies, as well as wider corporate strategies for each tier of local government as relevantÌý

Sometimes those strategies may be prepared on different timeframes and might not always recognise current community priorities and views. Balance these strategies within the context of the wider baseline information.

Carry out a critical analysis using these prompts

Drawing on the data analysis and mapping, the final stage of baselining is to carry out a critical analysis.ÌýÌý

Use the questions below to help prompt what direction your emerging plan may need to go in. Answering these questions with a realistic assessment of the baseline and the development needs that the plan will need to address will help you:Ìý

• develop the emerging planÌýÌý

• engage more effectively on the plan with elected members, the public, and stakeholdersÌý

The answers should be informed by your review of your own priorities, values, and objectives as well as any relevant local strategies.ÌýÌý

The purpose of baselining is to inform your early plan-making - you will not have comprehensive answers to all these questions at this stage. Your understanding will develop as you gather more evidence and prepare your plan. We suggest you answer the questions below as best you can with the information you have now.

Prompts

• Are any changes to the settlement hierarchy necessary?Ìý

• Has the current spatial strategy been successful in terms of achieving the local plan vision to date?Ìý

• Have or will existing allocations come forward in the timeframes originally expected? If not, why not?Ìý

• What are the likely local and sub-regional strategic challenges that the emerging plan will need to address (housing, employment, infrastructure, and environmental)?Ìý

• Would providing new allocations that generally maintain the current spatial strategy likely address the strategic challenges?Ìý

• Might known investments, known constraints, or new growth opportunities require a change to the current spatial strategy?

Use baselining information to inform your plan vision, strategy and evidence

You should use the information you gathered and analysed during the baselining process to prepare your vision, inform your emerging spatial strategy and scope and prepare your evidence base.