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In force since 2026-11-02, as the publisher states.
Copy read on 2026-11-10. The page it was read from
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.
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2026 No. 1161 TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING, ENGLAND TRIBUNALS AND INQUIRIES, ENGLAND The Spatial Development Strategy (Examination Procedure) Rules 2026 Made 2nd November 2026 Laid before Parliament 5th November 2026 Coming into force 26th November 2026 The Lord Chancellor makes these Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by section 9 (1) and (3) of the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1992.
Propose a change(1) These Rules may be cited as the Spatial Development Strategy (Examination Procedure) Rules 2026. (2) These Rules come into force on the 21st day after the day on which they are laid before Parliament. (3) These Rules extend to England and Wales and apply in relation to England only. (4) These Rules apply in relation to the examination of a spatial development strategy under section 12I or 12P(6)(a) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
Propose a changeIn these Rules— “the 2004 Act” means the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004; “examiner’s report” means the report made by the examiner under section 12I(6) of the 2004 Act, including as applied by section 12P(7) of the 2004 Act; “participation request” means a request to take part in the examination.
Propose a changeIn these Rules, a reference to— (a) a strategic planning authority’s website includes a reference to the website of a constituent authority of a strategic planning board; (b) a strategic planning authority’s principal office includes a reference to the principal office of a constituent authority of a strategic planning board.
Propose a change(1) The examiner must prepare— (a) a list of the matters to be examined at the examination and any questions arising in connection with those matters, and (b) a statement inviting— (i) written submissions on the matters to be examined at the examination, and (ii) participation requests. (2) The statement under paragraph (1)(b) must specify— (a) the information that must be included in written submissions and participation requests, (b) the form and manner in which written submissions and participation requests must be made, and (c) the date on or before which written submissions and participation requests must be received by the examiner, which must be a date not less than 4 weeks from the date on which the statement is published. (3) The examiner must send copies of the documents referred to in paragraph (1) to the following persons— (a) in relation to an examination under section 12I of the 2004 Act, the strategic planning authority that prepared the draft spatial development strategy being examined; (b) in relation to an examination under section 12P(6)(a) of the 2004 Act— (i) the Secretary of State; (ii) the strategic planning authority from whom the Secretary of State took over preparation of the draft spatial development strategy being examined.
Propose a change(1) Written submissions and participation requests must— (a) contain the information, (b) be made in the form and manner, and (c) be received by the examiner by the date, specified in the statement published under rule 4(1)(b). (2) The examiner must consider any written submissions and participation requests that comply with paragraph (1).
Propose a changeThe examiner may determine the procedure by which a matter is to be examined.
Propose a change(1) Within the period of 4 weeks beginning with the day after the day by which written submissions and participation requests must be received, the examiner must prepare— (a) a list of the persons invited to take part in the examination, and (b) a timetable for the examination. (2) The timetable for the examination must set out— (a) which matters are to be examined by way of hearing, (b) the date of the hearing, and (c) the date by which the examiner intends to make the examiner’s report. (3) The examiner must send copies of the following documents to the persons specified in paragraph (4)— (a) the list of the persons invited to take part in the examination, (b) the timetable for the examination, and (c) copies of any written submissions that comply with rule 5(1). (4) The persons referred to in paragraph (3) are— (a) in relation to an examination under section 12I of the 2004 Act, the strategic planning authority that prepared the draft spatial development strategy being examined; (b) in relation to an examination under section 12P(6)(a) of the 2004 Act— (i) the Secretary of State; (ii) the strategic planning authority from whom the Secretary of State took over preparation of the draft spatial development strategy being examined. (5) The examiner may, at any time, vary the timetable for the examination. (6) The examiner must, as soon as reasonably practicable, send any variation to the timetable to the persons specified in paragraph (4).
Propose a change(1) This rule applies where the examiner determines that a matter is to be examined by way of hearing. (2) The examiner must give each of the persons specified in paragraph (3) at least 4 weeks’ notice in writing of— (a) the date and the time of the hearing, (b) the location of the hearing or, where the hearing is to take place remotely, the arrangements to enable remote attendance; (c) any arrangements for broadcasting the hearing. (3) The persons referred to in paragraph (2) are— (a) in relation to an examination under section 12I of the 2004 Act, the strategic planning authority that prepared the draft spatial development strategy being examined; (b) in relation to an examination under section 12P(6)(a) of the 2004 Act— (i) the Secretary of State; (ii) the strategic planning authority from whom the Secretary of State took over preparation of the draft spatial development strategy being examined; (c) any other person invited to participate in the hearing.
Propose a change(1) The examiner may serve a notice at any time on any person to request any information that the examiner reasonably requires in connection with the examination of the spatial development strategy. (2) A notice under paragraph (1) must specify— (a) the information requested, and (b) the date by which the information must be sent to the examiner. (3) As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of any information requested in accordance with paragraph (1), the examiner must— (a) in relation to an examination under section 12I of the 2004 Act, send a copy of the information to the strategic planning authority that prepared the draft spatial development strategy being examined; (b) in relation to an examination under section 12P(6)(a) of the 2004 Act, send a copy of the information to— (i) the Secretary of State; (ii) the strategic planning authority from whom the Secretary of State took over preparation of the draft spatial development strategy being examined.
Propose a change(1) The examiner’s report must be in writing. (2) Paragraph (3) applies in relation to an examination under section 12I of the 2004 Act. (3) At the same time as making the report to the strategic planning authority, the examiner must send a copy of the examiner’s report to the Secretary of State. (4) Paragraph (5) applies in relation to an examination under section 12P(6)(a) of the 2004 Act. (5) At the same time as making the report to the Secretary of State, the examiner must send a copy of the examiner’s report to the strategic planning authority from whom the Secretary of State took over preparation of the spatial development strategy.
Propose a change(1) This rule applies in relation to an examination under section 12I of the 2004 Act where a strategic planning authority receives copies of the documents or information referred to in— (a) rule 4(1); (b) rule 7(1); (c) rule 7(6); (d) rule 8(2); (e) rule 9(3). (2) As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt, the strategic planning authority must— (a) publish the documents or information referred to in paragraph (1) on the authority’s website, and (b) make copies of the documents or information referred to in paragraph (1) available for inspection at the authority’s principal office and at any other place that the authority considers appropriate.
Propose a change(1) Paragraph (2) applies where the Secretary of State receives copies of the documents or information referred to in— (a) rule 4(1); (b) rule 7(1); (c) rule 7(6); (d) rule 8(2); (e) rule 9(3). (2) As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt, the Secretary of State must— (a) publish the documents or information referred to in paragraph (1) on a government website, and (b) make copies of the documents or information referred to in paragraph (1) available for inspection at the Secretary of State’s principal office and at any other place that the Secretary of State considers appropriate. (3) Paragraphs (4) and (5) apply where the Secretary of State publishes the examiner’s report under section 12P(8)(a) of the 2004 Act. (4) The Secretary of State must— (a) comply with section 12P(8)(a) of the 2004 Act within the period of 2 weeks beginning with the day on which the Secretary of State receives the examiner’s report; (b) publish the examiner’s report by— (i) publishing the report on a government website, and (ii) making copies of the report available for inspection at the Secretary of State’s principal office and at any other place that the Secretary of State considers appropriate. (5) As soon as practicable after publishing the examiner’s report, the Secretary of State must notify the following persons that the examiner’s report has been published on a government website— (a) the strategic planning authority; (b) any county council for an area that is within, or any part of which is within, the strategy area; (c) any district council for an area that is within, or any part of which is within, the strategy area.
Propose a change