Gateway 2 assessment for local plans: what you need to do
Draft information on what local planning authorities need to do to pass through the Gateway 2 assessment.
Applies to England
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
If you are submitting your plan under the legacy system, use the create or update a local plan legacy system guidance.
The legacy system covers plans to be adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, (excluding the amendments made by the LURA), and The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.
Gateway 2 is the second of 3 mandatory gateways supporting you in adopting a plan within 30 months.
The purpose of the Gateway 2 assessment is to check with the Planning Inspectorate that you are moving towards the preparation of a sound plan, by seeking advice and observations from them.
The assessment will also consider whether you are making progress towards meeting certain prescribed requirements. If there is an operative spatial development strategy in your area, the assessment will consider your progress towards preparing a plan which is in general conformity with that strategy.
The Planning Inspectorate’s procedure guidance sets out its role in the Gateway 2 assessment and further detail of what to expect.
Getting ready for Gateway 2
You will need to decide what matters to discuss with the gateway assessor after:
- completing your consultation on your proposed plan content and evidence
- publishing your summary of that consultation
Soundness issues
You should focus on the issues identified from your consultation on your proposed plan content and evidence and where you consider that there may be issues of soundness with preparing your plan. This may include:
- your overall approach to plan-making
- how you plan to meet your development needs over the plan period
- whether further work is required on your plan’s evidence base
This will help you prepare your statement of soundness. It will also help you check progress against the prescribed requirements as you prepare your statement of compliance.
As you start preparing your plan, you might identify early concerns about its soundness. Think about these problems by topic – for instance, you might have questions about housing, employment, transport or the natural environment.
Find out more about soundness issues in the PINS procedure guide.
Provide information to the assessor
When you are ready to enter the Gateway 2 assessment, you should provide the following to your gateway assessor so that they can carry out the assessment.
You should provide a cover letter setting out:
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a summary of where you are in preparing the plan, including what additional activities have been undertaken since the consultation on the proposed local plan content and evidence
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a description of up to 5 main soundness issues which you are seeking advice on
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any issues from the consultation on your proposed local plan content and evidence you want to highlight to the gateway assessor if relevant and not already covered in other submitted documents
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a list of supporting documents for the gateway assessor to review to provide observations and advice
You should submit the following documentation to the gateway assessor:
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your up-to-date local plan timetable
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a Project Initiation Document (PID)
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your draft Statement of Compliance
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your draft Statement of Soundness
Read the PINS procedural guide to understand what other documents it may be appropriate for you to consider submitting to support the gateway assessment.
When to pass through Gateway 2
The Gateway 2 assessment must take place after you have published the summary of consultation on proposed local plan content and evidence. You should notify the Planning Inspectorate at least 3 months in advance of when you intend to enter Gateway 2 so that a Planning Inspector can be assigned as a ‘gateway assessor’.
The Gateway 2 assessment happens between the consultation on proposed local plan content and evidence set out in Regulation 23, and the consultation on the proposed local plan set out in Regulation 27.
The assessment should take between 4 to 6 weeks to complete.
You should only undertake Gateway 2 once. The output of this gateway will support you as you continue to develop your plan and move towards Gateway 3.
What happens during the assessment
Your gateway assessor will look at everything you have submitted for the assessment. They will create an agenda based on what you have provided and the questions they want to ask.
The gateway assessor will organise a workshop with you. A workshop is usually expected to last no more than 2 days depending on the complexity of the topics for discussion.
Following the workshop, the assessor will provide you with a report about your plan progress.
The report provided by the gateway assessor must include observations and advice on:
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progress towards meeting certain prescribed requirements – if you submit a draft statement of compliance, this will assist the assessor in providing this
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progress towards preparing a local plan which is in general conformity with an operative spatial development strategy, where relevant
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issues relevant to the soundness of your emerging local plan and advice on preparing a sound plan
The report may also include observations and advice on:
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your overall approach
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consistency with national policy
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the evidence to support your local plan
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what to expect at Gateway 3 and during the examination – including the provision of any specific procedural guidance that might assist you to prepare for them
You must have regard to this report as you continue to prepare your plan.
After you receive the report, you must:
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publish both the information you submitted to your gateway assessor and the report itself on your website
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make available these documents for inspection at your principal office and other locations that you deem appropriate
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notify all persons who requested to be notified about the publication of the gateway assessor’s report
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send a copy of the gateway assessor’s report to each person identified or referred to in the observations or advice
You must do this before the consultation on the proposed local plan.