ODPM Framework - Project Control Plan Template - Version 2.3 - Project Control Gates

Sep 22, 2026

Project Control Plan Template outlining a governance-based control gate process for managing project delivery. Defines Control Gates as key milestone review points where independent assessment checks deliverable and documentation quality, risk and issue control, stakeholder commitment, resourcing, alignment with scope, budget, schedule, benefits delivery, and strategic priorities. Provides Control Gate 1 and 2 criteria covering costs, value, resources, stakeholders, progress, scope, risks, and quality, plus approval signatures and actions following acceptance criteria.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Project Ownership

Project Name and Roles

Control Gate Definition

Acceptance criteria and outcomes

Control Gate 1 Criteria

Costs, Value, Resources, Stakeholders, Quality

Project Initiation Approval (Control Gate 1)

Signatures and rejection reasons

Control Gate 2 Criteria

Costs, Progress, Scope, Value, Resources, Stakeholders, Risks, Quality

Project Planning Approval (Control Gate 2)

Project Contro l Plan Project Control Plan Template | PROJECT OWNERSHIP | | | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Project Name | | | | | | Project\# | | | | | Project Manager | | | | | | | | | | | Project Sponsor | | | | | | | | | | | Control Gates applicable to this project | | | | | | | | | | | CG 1 | CG2 | CG3 | CG4 | CG 5 | CG6 | | CG7 | | | Definition: A Control Gate is a special project milestone at a key transition point in the Project Management Framework. It is a governance review point at which there isan independent assessment of the extent to which the project • is conforming with the deliverables/documentation quality standards • is acceptably controlling/mitigating risks and issues • still has satisfactory stakeholder commitment • still is acceptably resourced • still is on course to deliver the scope defined in the Project Scope Document • still is acceptably on budget (to date and forecasted to end) • still is acceptably on schedule (to date and forecasted to end) • still is anticipated to deliver the benefits set out in the Project Business Case • still is acceptably aligned with current strategic priorities As a result of the review of the project against the Acceptance Criteria set out for each Control Gate, it will be authorised to continue, be terminated or rescoped/redefined. 1 ODM Fra mewor k – Project Control Pla n Te m plate v 2 . 1 © Best o utco me Li m ited 2 0 13 Project Control Plan Template Project Contro l Plan | CONTROL GATE 1 CRITERIA | | | --- | --- | | COSTS | • Preliminary costs are defined, reasonable and acceptable
• Sufficient funds are available to progress the project to Control Gate 2 | | VALUE | • If marked non-discretionary, the project is genuinely non-discretionary
• Preliminary financial benefits are defined and reasonable
• The organisational value of the project is defined and compelling
• The adverse organisational impact of not performing the project is defined and compelling
• The proposed project is acceptably aligned with the organisational, systems and technology strategies
• The payback period is defined and reasonable
• The payback assumptions are defined and reasonable | | RESOURCES | Sufficient resources are available to progress the project to Control Gate 2 | | STAKEHOLDERS | • There is an agreed Project Sponsor
• Key Stakeholders are defined | | QUALITY | The Project Brief Document has been completed and signed-off | | PROJECT INITIATION APPROVAL (Control Gate 1 Criteria met?) Input: Project Briefing Document | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Name | Signature | Date | | Project Sponsor | | | | CIO | | | | If Rejected/ Deferred/Returned, reasons | | --- | | | | This authorises project expenditure up to Control Gate 2 | 2 ODM Fra mewor k – Project Control Pla n Te m plate v 2 . 1 © Best o utco me Li m ited 2 0 13 Project Control Plan Template Project Contro l Plan | CONTROL GATE 2 CRITERIA | | | --- | --- | | COSTS | • Project costs over the project’s life and the life of its deliverables are defined and agreed
• Cost estimating assumptions are defined and reasonable
• Sufficient funds are available to complete the project without reducing the scope | | PROGRESS | • Project planned start and end dates are defined and agreed | | SCOPE | • The business objectives of the project are defined and agreed
• The scope of the project is defined and agreed (and baselined)
• Any project scoping assumptions are defined
• Any constraints under which the project will operate are defined | | VALUE | • Sought business outcomes and success criteria are defined and agreed
• Project financial benefits over the life of its deliverables are defined and agreed
• Benefits estimating assumptions are defined and reasonable
• The payback period is defined and reasonable
• The payback assumptions are defined

FAQs

What is a Control Gate in this Project Control Plan Template?

A Control Gate is a governance review milestone where an independent assessment confirms the project meets acceptance criteria across deliverable quality, risk/issue mitigation, stakeholder commitment, resourcing, scope alignment, budget, schedule, benefits, and strategic priorities.

What criteria must be met at Control Gate 1?

Control Gate 1 focuses on defined and acceptable preliminary costs, value and payback assumptions, available resources, identified stakeholders with an agreed Project Sponsor, and completion/sign-off of the Project Brief Document.

How does approval work after Control Gate 2?

When the Control Gate 2 criteria are met, the template includes Project Planning Approval with required inputs (e.g., initial Milestone Plan, Project Brief Document, Project Scope, Project Business Case, and IT Project Budget) and authorizes project expenditure up to Control Gate 3.

Sep 22, 2026

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