Stage 4: Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan – September 2026
In 2024 and 2025 we asked you for your views on the draft Local Plan and Preferred housing and employment options. Over the two consultations we received nearly four thousand comments from around 1,500 individuals, businesses, and statutory consultees.
You can see what people had to say on our consultation portal by selecting the consultation you wish to find out about and then clicking on the ‘What people said’ tab.
On the 24 September 2026, at Full Council meeting the Council made the decision not to proceed with the Regulation 19 consultation.
On 25 September 2026, the Council was issued with a Local Plan intervention Letter whereby the Minister of State for Planning and Housing setting out a total of five directions to the Council (North East Lincolnshire Council: Local Plan intervention letter – GOV.UK).
The Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan has now been published for Regulation 19 consultation in accordance with the directions from Government. The consultation commences today (Wednesday 30 September 2026) and will run for six weeks ending on Thursday 12 November at 23:59. A revised Local Development Scheme (PDF, MB) has also been published, setting out the directed timetable to submission and an indication of the anticipated examination.
As a result of the directions set out in the ‘Intervention letter’ the consultation period now runs from Wednesday 30 September to 23:59 on Thursday 12 November 2026, and not the dates set out in the Introduction of the published Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan document which was presented to Full Council. Late representations will not be accepted, only those representations made within the consultation period will be considered by the Inspector as part of the examination.
The Local Plan is made up of two parts; the written text (containing policies and accompanying text) and the Policies Map (an Ordnance Survey based showing where specific policies designations apply). Both parts should be read together, along with the supporting evidence base documents, Sustainability Appraisal Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment report.
What is the Regulation 19 consultation?
The Regulation 19 consultation is the final chance for representations to be made on the Plan before its submission for Examination.
Unlike the previous Regulation 18 consultations which sought opinions of sites, policies and development across the district more generally, the Regulation 19 consultation is more focused and technical. The role of this consultation is to provide the opportunity for representations to be made on the ‘soundness’ and legal compliance of the plan.
Where can I find out more?
We have arranged the following informal drop-in events, where you can find out more about this consultation, and get help with submitting your comments. These are not formal meetings.
| Date and time | Location |
| Tuesday 6 October, 9am to 12 noon | Immingham Library |
| Thursday 8 October, 9am to 5pm | Freshney Place, Grimsby |
| Friday 9 October, 9am to 12:30pm | Waltham Library |
| Tuesday 13 October, 5pm to 8pm | Immingham Civic Centre |
| Saturday 17 October, 9am to 1pm | Cleethorpes Library |
Consultation documents
We are seeking comments on the following documents which can be downloaded and viewed by clicking on the title of the document, in the list below:
- Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan
- Five policies map
- Plan Area
- Cleethorpes and Immingham Town Centre Inset Maps.
- Grimsby Town Centre Inset Map
- Urban Area Inset Map (Grimsby and Cleethorpes, also includes the villages of Barnoldby le Beck, Bradley, Great Coates, Humberston, New Waltham Waltham)
- Inset Maps (includes the villages of Ashby cum Fenby, Aylesby, Beelsby, Brigsley, East Ravendale, Laceby, Habrough, Hatcliffe, Healing, Irby upon Humber, Stallingborough and Wold Newton).
- Sustainability Appraisal Report
- Sustainability Appraisal Non-Technical Summary
- Habitats Regulations Assessment
Supporting documents
Supporting these consultation documents is a robust and proportionate evidence base. The evidence base documents can be viewed and downloaded from our dedicated evidence base library page.
Paper copies of the Local Plan and Policies Map are available for inspection (during normal opening hours) at the following locations:
- Municipal Offices, Town Hall Street, Grimsby, DN31 1HU
- The Lincs Inspire libraries in Cleethorpes, Immingham, Waltham and the temporary Grimsby library in Freshney Place.
- Gingerbread House, Church Lane, Humberston, DN36 4HZ.
- Scartho Community Hub, St Giles Avenue, Grimsby, DN33 2HB.
The consultation period starts today Wednesday 30 September 2026 and ends on Thursday 12 November at 23:59. Only those representations made within the period set by the Council will be taken into account by the Inspector as part of the examination.
How to comment on the Regulation 19 Consultation
Please note; we are unable to accept anonymous comments due to the legal nature of this consultation. In addition the Planning Inspector and Programme Officer may need to contact you to discuss your representation(s), keep you informed of the progress of the examination or invite you to attend the hearing part of the examination.
You can submit your representations in writing through our consultation portal.
Email or write to us directly using the following addresses:
- Email us at [email protected].
- Complete the response form (Word, 111KB) and return it to us at: Spatial Planning, North East Lincolnshire Council, Town Hall Square, Grimsby, DN31 1HU.
- Write to us at: Spatial Planning, North East Lincolnshire Council, Town Hall Square, Grimsby, DN31 1HU.
If you are emailing or writing to us; you must include the following information:
- Your name and address.
- Which part of the Local Plan your comments relate to (for example: section number and name, Policy number and name) or which evidence base document you are commenting on.
- Whether you think the Local Plan is sound or not and explain why based on the soundness test set out above).
- If you think the Local Plan is legally compliant or not and explain why based on the legal compliance test set out above).
- How the Plan can be made sound.
- If you wish to speak at the hearing part of the examination, please set out clearly why you think this is necessary.
If you are commenting on any of the evidence base documents, Sustainability Appraisal Assessment or Habitats Regulations Assessment Report please clearly state which document your comments relate to.
Please note: You need to submit a separate response for each section or policy (including site allocation) of the plan or policies map you want to comment on.
Notification of Future Stages
If you would like to be added to the Local Plan consultation database so that you are notified of future Local Plan consultations or major updates, please request this by emailing [email protected] including your full name and email address.
Next Steps
The comments submitted during the Regulation 19 consultation and any supporting documents you attach to your responses; the Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan, Policies map, and supporting evidence documents will be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination.
Following submission, the Secretary of State will appoint an Inspector who will undertake an independent Examination of the Plan. This process is managed by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS), and the timetabling will be outside of the control of the Council. It is difficult to estimate exactly when the Examination may start and how long it may take, however, we estimate that subject to the Plan being found sound, the Plan will hopefully be adopted summer 2028.
