Emerging Dartmoor Local Plan 2026
The Local Plan is the Authority’s most important planning document and is used to make decisions on planning applications and guide future development in the National Park. Our current Local Plan 2018 – 2036 is due to be reviewed, and the next iteration will look forward over the next 15 years, setting out a clear strategy to ensure development supports the purposes of the National Park and deliver the long-term vision set out in the Partnership Plan.
Preparing the Emerging Local Plan is a collaborative and evidence-led process. It will be informed by a wide range of factors, including detailed technical studies and specialist assessments, as well as ongoing engagement with residents, local communities and key stakeholders. National planning policy and legislation will also play a critical role in shaping the Emerging Local Plan.
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Emerging Local Plan Timetable
Our timetable for the preparation of the Emerging Local Plan has now been published.
Dartmoor Local Plan 2026 (emerging) Notice of Scoping Consultation
published 13th July 2026 *updated 20th July 2026
In accordance with Regulation 20 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, Dartmoor National Park Authority gives notice that it is undertaking a Scoping Consultation on the emerging Dartmoor Local Plan 2026.
This is an early opportunity for communities, organisations, businesses and other interested parties to help shape the matters the new Local Plan should address and the way the Authority engages people during plan preparation.
The Authority is seeking views on:
- the vision for the new Local Plan;
- the scope and content of the new Local Plan, including how well the current Local Plan is performing;
- how the Authority should engage with people throughout the plan-making process, and what could be improved.
To help inform this discussion, we have prepared a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis based on evidence gathered through the State of the Park Report, Local Plan monitoring, and workshops held during the development of the Partnership Plan.
How to respond
The Scoping Consultation is open for six weeks. Representations must be received by the Authority no later than Sunday 23 August 2026.
The preferred way to respond is by completing the online consultation survey:
Alternatively, the consultation document can be viewed as a PDF online here or at:
- Dartmoor National Park Authority, Parke, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 9JQ.
Opening hours are Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, and Friday, 9.00am to 4.30pm. Reception is closed for lunch between 1.00pm and 2.00pm. - Haytor Visitor Centre, Haytor Vale, TQ13 9XT
- Postbridge Visitor centre, Postbridge, PL20 6TH
Responses can be submitted by email to forwardplanning@dartmoor.gov.uk or by letter to the address above.
Future Notifications
As part of the survey, you may also request to be notified of the following future stages of the Local Plan process:
- consultation on the proposed local plan content and evidence
- the publication of observations or advice from the Planning Inspectorate after Gateway 2
- the consultation on the proposed local plan
- the submission of the proposed local plan for independent examination
- when details of the independent examination are available
- if the independent examination is paused for further work
- if additional documents for the independent examination are published
- the publication of the recommendations and reasons of the independent examiner
- the adoption or approval of the local plan
Notice of Intention
We have published our notice of intention to start plan making. It is available to read here and in our offices at Parke.