Plans under preparation

Plans and Polices 

Below are some of the documents that are currently in their preparation stages, which are yet to be adopted by St Helens Borough Council.  

Supplementary Planning Documents 

St Helens Borough Council is currently in the process of preparing a number of new Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs). The SPDs will provide detailed guidance on the interpretation and implementation of policies within the St Helens Borough Local Plan up to 2037 (2022). Once adopted the SPDs will carry full weight as material considerations in the determination of planning applications.  

The council is currently undertaking a six-week public consultation on the following four Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs):  

• Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document 

• Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document 

• Local Economy and Social Value Supplementary Planning Document  

• Locally Listed Heritage Assets Supplementary Planning Document  

The consultation will run from Wednesday 17 September 2025 until 5pm Wednesday 29 October 2025.  For further details and how to comment, please see the Consultations and Latest News page. 

Neighbourhood Plans 

Both Rainford Parish Council and Windle Parish Council as the relevant bodies, have now submitted and had approved an application to designate their parish areas as Neighbourhood Areas for the purposes of neighbourhood planning. Both applications were approved by St Helens Borough Council on the 7th of December 2023. 

Details of each designated Neighbourhood Area can be found here. 

Neighbourhood Plans are prepared separately by a parish council, or neighbourhood forum and allow local residents to create a plan with real legal weight that directs development in their local area. 

Once 'made' a Neighbourhood Plan will form part of the 'Development Plan'. The Neighbourhood Plan can be a powerful tool to ensure the community gets the right types of development, in the right place, this could include sites for new homes, shops, offices, services, facilities and infrastructure. 

More information on Neighbourhood Plans can be found on the Neighbourhood planning page.

The Liverpool City Region Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) 

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is continuing work on developing its first Spatial Development Strategy (SDS). The SDS will be a statutory land-use planning document, setting out a framework for development in the Liverpool City Region looking ahead for at least the next 15 years.  When finalised the SDS will form part of the Development Plan for the city region along with adopted Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans in the six Liverpool City Region local authority areas.  

For more information, answers to Frequently Asked Questions and the latest news, please go to: www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/sdsengagement 

Local Development Scheme

Under the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004), the Council is required to prepare and publish a timetable for the production of the Local Plan. This is known as the Local Development Scheme (LDS). 

The latest Local Development Scheme 2025 (PDF, 464 KB)(opens new window) was adopted in February 2025.