Borough of Redditch Local Plan – Notice of intention to commence local plan preparation

Redditch Borough Council hereby gives notice on 29th June 2026 of its intention to commence local plan preparation on the ‘Borough of Redditch Local Plan’ (the title by which the local planning authority will refer to the local plan) in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026. 

This notice provides the public and other stakeholders advance notice of plan-making and details so that they understand when and how they can get involved in preparing the Local Plan. 

The Borough of Redditch Local Plan will be produced as a new style local plan under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. The Plan will be prepared in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, which came into force on 25th March 2026, and the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended). In addition, the Plan will respond to the changes to the planning system through the proposed updates to the NPPF, published for consultation in December 2025.  

In light of preparing the Local Plan under the new plan-making system, the Plan will be prepared and adopted within 30 months once it passes through Gateway 1. In line with the Regulations, the Council will allow a minimum of 4 months from the date of this Notice before formally commencing the 30-month plan preparation process and pass through Gateway 1. It is anticipated that formal commencement of the 30-month plan preparation process will begin in October 2026. 

The Borough of Redditch Local Plan will only cover local plan matters. It will not cover minerals and waste as Worcestershire County Council is responsible for the preparation of planning policy for minerals and waste development in Worcestershire. 

The work to-date on the emerging Borough of Redditch Local Plan, including the work and comments received from the Issues and Options consultation between 22nd May and 3rd July 2025, will feed into the preparation of the Plan under the new plan-making system. Although the Council has carried out a regulation 18 statutory consultation under the legacy plan-making system, the legal requirement of the new system requires the Council to follow the requirements of the new system from start to finish. This does not mean that we cannot use the work already undertaken in the legacy plan-making system. 

The geographical area of the Borough of Redditch Local Plan will cover the entirety of the administrative area of Redditch Borough Council only (ONS Code – E07000236), as shown below. The Council is not proposing to prepare a joint local plan with another local planning authority. 

The published Local Plan timetable for the preparation of the Local Plan can be found on our website, which includes details of where to inspect it at the Council’s Customer Services Centre at 5 George Walk, Kingfisher Shopping Centre/Town Hall, Walter Stranz Square* and in Borough libraries during respective opening hours.

Redditch Council Boundary (ONS Code – E07000236)

A pdf copy of this notice is available to download at this link.

Finding out more

The Notice to Commence is available for inspection at the Council’s Customer Services Centre at 5 George Walk, Kingfisher Shopping Centre during office hours until the necessary works at the Town Hall, Walter Stranz Square are complete*. It will then be made available for inspection during office hours at the Town Hall, Walter Stranz Square. Additionally, the Notice to Commence is available for inspection at libraries across the Borough (Redditch Library and Woodrow Library) during their respective opening hours. Details and opening times of the libraries can be found here

*The specific date of the movement of the notice of intention to commence local plan preparation from 5 George Walk to the Town Hall, Walter Stranz Square will be subject to the completion of necessary works at the Town Hall 

If you have any questions or would like further information, you can contact the Council’s Strategic Planning team here are the contact details