Liverpool Local Plan 2043 Regulation 19 Consultation

Overview

Liverpool’s new Local Plan (2025–2043) sets out a long‑term vision for how our city will grow, change and thrive up to 2043. It guides where new homes, jobs, transport, shops, community facilities, will be located, while protecting and enhancing the City’s heritage, green spaces, neighbourhoods and distinct character that makes Liverpool unique.

The Local Plan also explains where development can take place and the planning policies that will be used to make decisions on future planning applications across the city from the waterfront and city centre to our diverse communities and local high streets.

When is the consultation?

The consultation runs from 10 August 2026 to  midnight 20 September 2026.

Only representations received within the consultation period can be taken into account. Submissions received after the closing date will not be accepted.

All details can be found in the statement of representation procedure, including how to respond via email and post and where to view to documents in person: 

What this stage is for?

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.

To support you in preparing your representation, we have included information below explaining what is meant by legal compliance and soundness, and how these tests are applied during examination.

Key documents

• Liverpool Local Plan 2043 view the updated Local Plan and the Policies Map
• Local Plan Evidence Base Explore the technical studies, assessments and supporting information used to prepare the plan.

Information you must include

For your representation to be considered duly made, please confirm:

• your name
• whether you are responding as an individual or on behalf of an organisation

Anonymous responses cannot be accepted. This information is required so that the Planning Inspectorate can contact respondents as part of the examination process.

Request for further notification 

By submitting a representation, you will automatically be added to our database and kept informed of the next stage in the Local Plan process.

You can opt out at any time by emailing liverpoollocalplan@liverpool.gov.uk

Persons making representations may request to be notified of the submission of the Plan, recommendations of the Inspector and adoption of the Plan.

Data protection

By responding to this consultation, your personal data will be processed in line with Liverpool City Council’s Privacy Notice which can be read here Planning Services Privacy Notice.

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).