Hart Local Plan 2044 Engagement Strategy

Introduction

This Local Plan Engagement Strategy sets out how Hart District Council (‘the Council’) will engage the community and stakeholders in preparing the new Hart Local Plan 2044. It sets out who we will engage with and at what stages, how we will engage with stakeholders and how we will feed back on how consultation responses have been taken into account. 

The new Local Plan will guide future development in Hart. It will set out a vision, priorities, policies and site allocations, and, once adopted, will be used in the determination of planning applications. It is, and as it progresses will continue to be, informed by consultation with the community and other stakeholders.

The Local Plan must be prepared in a way that addresses the needs of the area (including housing, employment, retail and infrastructure), complies with national planning policy and meets legal requirements set out in relevant government legislation.

Further information on the new Local Plan can be found on our New Local Plan webpage. 

In preparing this strategy, and in undertaking consultations, we have had and will have regard to:

In line with the Hart Communications and Engagement Strategy, the Council will:

  • communicate clearly, consistently and proactively with residents, staff, councillors and partners

  • ensure that communication and engagement activity will be accessible, inclusive and representative of the communities and workforce that the Council serves.

There are three ‘formal’ stages of consultation in preparing the Local Plan, in accordance with the government’s latest Local Planning Regulations. These are listed in Table 1 below and detailed later in this document. Consultation on the Local Plan Scoping took place from May-June 2026, so this Engagement Strategy focuses on the ways in which we will engage in the remaining two formal stages of consultation as well as setting out other points in the process at which stakeholders will be engaged. This is taking into account the feedback provided to the Scoping Consultation on how stakeholders would like to be consulted on the Local Plan. 

The dates for each consultation stage are also set out in our Local Plan timetable. Please note that dates may change as the Plan progresses. 

Table 1: Summary of Local Plan consultation stages

 

Date

Local Plan Stage

Purpose

27 May – 19 June 2026

Local Plan Scoping 

This sought views on the potential scope of the Local Plan and on how stakeholders wish to be engaged.

19 October – 30 November 2026

Proposed Local Plan content and evidence 

To seek views on the proposed content of the Local Plan and the evidence being/to be prepared.

3 September – 29 October 2027

Proposed Local Plan 

To seek views on a full draft of the Local Plan prior to being submitted for independent examination.

 

If you wish to be notified of future Local Plan consultations and receive updates at other key points in the process, please register to join our Local Plan database.   

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