East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) has announced it will no longer seek to submit a new Local Plan by the December 2026 deadline.
Council Leader Cllr Richard Millard cited a combination of “confused and counter-productive” changes to national planning rules and the impending shake-up of local government in Hampshire as the primary reasons. The Council considers that pressing ahead under the current outgoing rules would be “pointless and unjustifiable,” resulting in a plan that could be quickly rendered obsolete and brushed aside at planning appeals.
The decision stems from a perfect storm of policy and structural shifts. The Government is set to introduce sweeping changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) this summer, which, the Council says, would upend much existing work on environmental performance and building design.
Furthermore, local government reorganisation means that EHDC will cease to exist as an administrative entity in 2028. with East Hampshire set to be split between different unitary authorities.
For developers, landowners, and local communities, this pause introduces a period of significant uncertainty regarding future housing figures, development sites, and local infrastructure policies in East Hampshire.
If you have interests in East Hampshire and are concerned about how these changes might impact your projects, please contact the expert team at Chapman Lily Planning for tailored advice and support.
