The Call for Sites closes at 5pm on Sunday 12 July 2026
We are preparing a new Local Plan under the new plan making system.
As part of the preparation of the new Local Plan we are carrying out a Scoping Consultation and Call for Sites.
The new Call for Sites is now open, and is further to the one carried out in 2025. It is being carried out to see if there are any more newly available sites. If you previously submitted a site in 2025 there is no need to re-submit it as these sites will be considered.
The current Call for Sites is focussed on finding available sites not previously submitted in 2025. It is an opportunity for people and organisations to make us aware of land which might have the potential to be developed or used in a different way to its existing use. For example, sites with the potential for:
- housing or employment uses
- care homes
- improved natural habitats (such as a biodiversity receptor site)
- public open space
- community facilities
- caravan sites including Gypsy and Traveller sites
- renewable or low carbon energy development
- new infrastructure
We welcome submissions for a wide range of land, but will only consider the following types of land where the site is at or above the minimum sizes below:
- residential development of five or more dwellings
- self-build or custom build housing sites of one or more dwellings
- biodiversity receptor sites of 500m² or more in area
- retail development with a floorspace of 500m² or more
- economic development (such as offices, factories) with a floorspace of 500m² or more
- Gypsy, Travellers or Travelling Showpeople sites of 500m² or more
A site being put forward to the council and considered through the Local Plan Site Assessment process does not mean it will necessarily be considered suitable for development or a particular land use, nor included in a Local Plan or granted planning permission.
We are only currently looking for submissions where it is known, and can be demonstrated, that a site is available for a suggested use, either now or within the next 15 year plan period. Where this is not shown sites will not be able to be categorised as available.
The sites and suggested land uses will be made public as the Local Plan progresses. We do not need people to resubmit sites previously submitted in our 2025 Call for Sites, as these are already under consideration.
Submitting a site
The Call for Sites will run for four weeks from 15 June to the 12 of July 2026.
To help you with your site submission we have prepared some a series of questions and answers.
You can submit a site online below:
If you are unable to submit your site online and would like a paper copy of the form sending to you, please contact our Local Plan team.
Protecting your privacy
If you make a comment on the Local Plan, or submit a site, we will retain your information in order to notify you of progress through the Local Plan process. Find how we protect your privacy and keep your information safe by looking at our Local Plan and planning strategy privacy notice.
The Government requires the council to carry out a Call for Sites in order for us to have a clear understanding of the land available in the area for housing. There have also been changes in Government policy that suggest more sites may be put forward over and above those submitted in the 2025 Call for Sites.
It is necessary for us to have an understanding of what land may be available for other land uses, such as economic development, or biodiversity enhancement.
The Call for Sites is an important way to get an understanding of what land may be available. It provides the opportunity for people and organisations to tell us about sites that they think may have the potential for development or different land uses.
The information gathered will help inform the process of updating the current Chesterfield Borough Local Plan.
We preparing a new Local Plan under the new planning system.
We need to know what land would be available for what uses or development.
Land that is not available would typically not be allocated, as it is unlikely to be deliverable or developable within the plan period.
The sites will be assessed according to the Government’s new guidance on local plan site assessment and categorised based on whether or not they are thought to be available, suitable, viable and achievable.
A map showing the submitted sites and proposed uses will be published before the end of 2026 as part of the process of preparing a new Local Plan.
An allocation in a new Local Plan is not guaranteed. Further assessments and decisions are required before sites are included in the Local Plan through the process of process of making and adopting a new Local Plan.
Submitting a site is not the same as an application for planning permission and so does not guarantee planning permission, with a separate process existing for this.
The site assessment process provides information on which sites might be available to meet planning objectives including housing need. However, these sites can only be allocated for development through the adoption of a Local Plan.
Further public consultation on the emerging Local Plan which will include potentially suitable sites identified through the Call for Sites will take place later in 2026.
No - consultation does not take place at this stage on the submitted sites as no decisions have been made about the appropriateness of the sites for allocating in a Local Plan or granting planning permission.
As part of the preparation of the new Local Plan we will publish a map showing the submitted sites and what uses have been suggested for them. This will be towards the end of 2026.
We will also publish the overall findings of the Local Plan Site Assessment as and when they are available, which is likely to be no later than May 2027.
This should be possible when they are shown in a consultation on a draft Local Plan, currently programmed in for May 2027.
The sites will be assessed through the Local Plan Site Assessment process. The results of this will be published when they are available.
We will need to consider if any of the sites are necessary to meet the new national planning requirements and then put these into a new plan which would need to be publicly consulted on.
You can remove any site suggestions you have made via the menu on your Call for Sites profile.
You can also 'deactivate' your account and this will permanently remove your profile from our system.
If you deactivate your account without removing your site submissions they will be reported on publicly and assessed as part of the Local Plan Site Assessment.
If you wish to remove such sites so they are not assessed, please email local.plan@chesterfield.gov.uk.
Enabling a transition to a low carbon society, mitigating climate change and improving biodiversity whilst helping to meeting the health and wellbeing, social and economic needs of current and future generations will remain a key role of the Local Plan. However, this is in the context of the Government now requiring the council to plan for a further 108% more homes over 15 years.
Knowing what land is available to fulfil this key role is a fundamental part of seeking as sustainable development as is deliverable.
Keep up to date
If you would like to be kept informed on progress with our Local Plan, Call for Sites and other planning policy activity please email local.plan@chesterfield.gov.uk
Further information and guidance
If you need more information or assistance, please contact us:
- email local.plan@chesterfield.gov.uk
- phone 01246 345002