Introduction to identifying, assessing and selecting sites

Question

Accepted Answer

We will review this guidance and make any necessary revisions and updates as the new system is implemented and related policy is confirmed.

For plans under the legacy plan-making system听听

If you are听submitting听your plan under the legacy system, use the听create or update a local plan legacy system guidance.听

The legacy system covers plans to be adopted under the听Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (excluding the amendments made by the LURA)听and听The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.

This guidance听sets out a recommended听process to follow when听identifying,听assessing听and selecting sites听for local plans.听We recommend that you read the whole guidance before you start.

About the sites process听

The sites process听allows you to听identify听and assess听land that could be used for housing or employment,听as well as other land uses, and select which sites to put forward in your draft plan.

It鈥檚听an essential part of preparing听your local plan听and delivering a spatial strategy.听Comprehensive site听selection听helps you deliver on your plan-making needs and听objectives.听This guidance is designed to help you meet the expectations of national planning policy.

The 4 stages听听

The site selection process consists of four stages:听听

Learn more about Stage 1: Identifying sites, Stage 2: Assessing sites, Stage 3: Determining your draft allocations, or Stage 4: Confirming your draft allocations and recording your decisions

Getting started

You can begin work to understand the availability of land in your area and commence the sites process early in plan making. See the 30-month plan process overview for further guidance on timescales and preparing local plans.听

Depending on your local circumstances you may want to work with neighbouring authorities to produce joint evidence on site identification and land availability.听

Who this guidance is for听

This guidance is primarily designed for local planning authorities (LPAs).听

The method set out in this guidance is designed to support local plans. It could also be used to identify land for minerals and waste plans. 听

Neighbourhood planning bodies听can also use the method set out in this guidance to assess听sites听but any assessment needs to be proportionate to the nature of the plan.

Neighbourhood planning bodies may also make use of existing site assessments prepared by the LPA as a starting point when听identifying听sites to听allocate听within a neighbourhood plan.

How to use this guidance听

This guidance is designed to support the identification and assessment of sites for housing and employment听development,听however you could adapt this for other land uses.

It will help show you鈥檝e followed a robust approach to site selection. Its goal is to increase the likelihood your plan is found to be sound at examination.听

Your assessment needs to be thorough but proportionate, building where possible on existing information sources outlined within the guidance.听

This guidance focuses on:听

a framework and supporting methodologies for identifying sites听
what data to collect during the call for sites process听
how to assess sites you have identified听
an approach to selecting the sites that meet your plan vision听
documenting your听decision making听on why you selected these sites听

It provides direction on site听selection听while still being adaptable so you can consider local needs and circumstances. No two听LPAs听are the same or face the same challenges and this guidance does not seek to replace local planning judgement. Instead, it provides a consistent framework to work in.听It鈥檚听flexible enough to account for local circumstances and we encourage you to adapt it to your needs.

It鈥檚听important you document听when and why you make decisions on the sites you select throughout the process, particularly where you have听departed听from this guidance. To meet national policy expectations, you should be able to show that听you鈥檝e听followed a logical, consistent method to听identify听and select the sites听you鈥檙e听taking forward as draft allocations, and why you听haven鈥檛听taken forward alternatives. You can find more information on recording your decisions in Stage 4.

Other requirements to consider as you go through the process听

There are other legal requirements, which are not set out in detail in this guidance, to bear in mind as you go through the sites process.听

The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Regulations) applies to qualifying plans and programmes. If the SEA Regulations apply to your local plan, they broadly require that you:听

assess the likely significant environmental effects of your local plan and reasonable alternatives to that local plan听
consult on an environmental report containing that assessment听听
when adopting the plan, explain how the SEA process influenced the plan听

To help meet SEA requirements through your sites process, you should consider and keep records of:听

the likely significant environmental effects of your spatial strategy and preferred site selection听
alternatives to your spatial strategy and preferred sites that meet your policy objectives, and the likely significant environmental effects of those alternatives听
how you have used the information you recorded to inform your preferred spatial strategy and site selection听

Following the method set out in this guidance will help you meet SEA requirements related to consideration of sites. 听

More guidance on SEA will be published in future.听听

In accordance with Chapter 8 of Part 6 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (the Habitats Regulations), you may be required to carry out an assessment if your plan is likely to have a significant effect on a protected site.

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