By Local Democracy & Public Affairs Reporter not affiliated to the BBC LDRS
Rutland County Council has officially opened its "Call for Sites," marking a critical early step in the development of its new Local Plan for the period 2026 to 2046. As the county prepares to meet evolving national housing targets and infrastructure needs, the Council is inviting landowners, developers, and the public to put forward potential sites for future development.
The initiative comes in response to significant changes to national planning policy introduced in December 2024. These updates resulted in a sharp increase in Rutland’s annual housing target, rising from 123 homes a year to 269. While the Council is currently moving toward the adoption of its existing Local Plan (which covers the period up to 2041), the government mandated that the local authority must simultaneously begin work on a new, refreshed plan to address this higher housing requirement.
The "Call for Sites" stage is a vital opportunity to identify land that could potentially host new homes, employment spaces, community facilities, and essential infrastructure. By gathering a broad range of options now, the Council can ensure that its planning strategy is informed by a comprehensive evidence base.
Councillor Paul Browne, Cabinet Member for Planning, emphasised that this stage is about exploration: “The new local plan will be prepared under a new system with a fixed 30-month timetable. Sites submitted through our initial call for sites stage will be carefully assessed, helping to decide where development could take place in the future. The important word here is ‘could.’ Submitting a site does not guarantee it will be chosen, but it ensures it can be considered alongside all other options as we progress.”
How to Participate
The Council is encouraging anyone with land that may be suitable for development to come forward. It is important to note that even if a site was submitted in previous years, it must be resubmitted during this current window to be considered for the 2026–2046 Local Plan.
The deadline for submissions is 4pm on Friday, 31 July 2026. Detailed instructions and the submission portal can be found on the www.rutland.gov.uk/callforsites
Looking Ahead: A Fixed 30-Month Timetable
The new Local Plan will follow a strictly regulated, 30-month roadmap designed to keep the process transparent and on track. Key milestones include:
September 2026: Scoping consultation to gather stakeholder feedback.
October 2026: Publication of the Council’s readiness self-assessment (Gateway 1).
April 2027: Consultation on draft plan content and vision.
August 2027: Early advice from the Planning Inspectorate (Gateway 2).
October 2028: Formal submission of the plan for independent examination.
April 2029: Expected final report and formal adoption.
For those interested in following the progress of these plans or reviewing the existing Local Plan documentation, further information is available at
