6. Engagement programme

6.1. There are three ‘formal’ stages of consultation in preparing the local plan in accordance with the new plan making system that are set out below. The dates for each consultation stage are also set out in our West Suffolk Local Plan 2045 Timetable which is reviewed monthly. The key local plan stages are set out below including milestone stage, timing and proposed engagement and communication approaches.

6.2. Across Suffolk, local plan timetables have been broadly aligned. Many stakeholder organisations operate across Suffolk (or other geographies beyond district council boundaries) and provide essential input throughout the preparation of local plans. The Suffolk Planning Authorities are collaborating on their approach to ongoing stakeholder engagement. This is likely to take a several forms including workshops and meetings on specific matters.

6.3. The following section provides an overview of our approach to consultation on the new local plan. Before each consultation stage we will provide further detail of how we will engage including ahead of the ‘proposed local plan content and evidence’ consultation scheduled for May 2026.

Scoping consultation

6.4. The scoping consultation (Town and Country Planning Regulation 20) took place from June to July 2026. The purpose of this consultation was to help us understand the communities’ priorities for the new local plan and how they would like to be engaged and consulted in the process. The feedback received helped inform the community engagement strategy.

Table 2. West Suffolk Council's engagement undertaken for the scoping consultation

Milestone	Date	Engagement and/or communication methods
Scoping Consultation	18 June to 28 July 2026	Dedicated webpage for consultation. Email notification to consultees in database – 18 June 2026. Promotion of the consultation through social media. Developers' forum and workshop – April 2026. Parish council forum – April 2026. College visits – June 2026. Consultation packs to parish councils and council members – June 2026. Press packs to local media – June 2026. Online questionnaire – 18 June to 28 July 2026. Market events – June and July 2026. Viewing of consultation material in council buildings – June and July 2026.

Table 3. Key milestones for preparation of the West Suffolk Local Plan and potential engagement and/or communication methods

Milestone	Date	Consultation purpose	Engagement and/or communication methods
Gateway 1 Self-assessment	29 October 2026		Self-assessment and local plan community engagement strategy published on website.
Proposed local plan content and evidence	May to June 2027	To seek views on the proposed aims and objectives, spatial strategy options, summary of evidence gathered and scope of proposed policies.	Dedicated webpage for consultation. Contacting all those on local plan database by email or letter. Consultation material in council buildings. Promotion of the consultation through social media. Consultation packs to parish councils. Press packs to local media. Promotion of consultation and events. In person events such as public exhibitions and drop ins. Holding sessions with key community groups, hard to reach groups and stakeholders.
Gateway 2 advice sought	September 2027		Advice published on website.
Proposed local plan	June to July 2028	Consultation on the proposed local plan and supporting documents including: The proposed local plan. The map of proposed local plan policies. Details of the evidence gathered to support the proposed local plan. Details relating to the scoping consultation and consultation on proposed local plan content and evidence, including a summary of the main issues raised by respondents and how those main issues have been addressed in the proposed local plan.	Dedicated webpage for consultation. Contacting all those on local plan database by email or letter. Consultation material in council buildings. Promotion of the consultation through social media. Consultation packs to parish councils. Press packs to local media. Promotion of consultation and events. In person events such as public exhibitions and drop ins. Holding sessions with key community groups, hard to reach groups and stakeholders.
Gateway 3 – prescribed requirements assessment	September 2028		Advice published on website.
Submission of plan to Secretary of State for examination	October 2028		All interested parties notified.
Proposed adoption of the local plan	May 2029		All interested parties notified.

Forward to 7. Monitoring and feedback

Back to community engagement strategy contents page