From 31 October 2026, national rules will change how planning applications are decided.
The changes apply to local planning authorities in England and sets out which applications must be decided by planning officers and which may be considered by Planning Committee.
What is changing
More routine, technical and smaller-scale applications will be decided by planning officers.
Planning committee will focus on applications that raise significant planning issues or important economic, social or environmental issues for the local area.
What is not changing
You can still view and comment on planning applications.
Planning officers will still consider your comments as well as planning policy, consultation responses and relevant planning issues before making a decision.
Process
- Smaller, routine or technical applications will be decided by planning officers.
- Larger or more complex applications will usually be decided by planning officers, but may go to Planning Committee if national and local criteria are met.
- Council own-interest applications may be determined by Planning Committee to maintain transparency and public confidence.
What this means for residents
You can still have your say. The change affects who makes the final decision in some cases, not whether comments are considered.
What this means for applicants
Some applications that may previously have gone to planning committee will now be decided by planning officers. Applicants will need to continue to provide clear and complete information when submitting an application.
What this means for councillors
Councillors can still raise planning issues and represent residents’ concerns, but national rules will limit when applications can be referred to planning committee. Where Ward Members raise concerns over whether a major application complies with the Local Plan, these schemes will usually be dealt with by the Planning Committee.
How planning decisions are made
The new rules divide all planning applications into two categories.
Schedule 1 applications:
- household extensions, minor residential schemes (up to 9 houses or flats), and minor commercial development (up to 1,000 square metres floorspace).
- technical and detailed planning consents such as minor changes to existing permissions
These are determined by planning officers.
Schedule 2 applications:
- major residential (10 or more houses or flats) and commercial (more than 1,000 square metres floorspace) applications
- large scale applications already granted in principle ('reserved matters'), minor amendments to these major schemes and retrospective applications
- listed building consents, adverts and works to protected trees
Schedule 2 applications are not automatically referred to Planning Committee. There is an internal referral process between the Chief Planning Officer and the Chair of the Planning Committee to discuss whether the scheme meets the criteria set down by the Government.
How we decide if an application goes to Planning Committee
- applications categorised
- relevant Schedule 2 cases considered
- nominated officer and nominated member apply national criteria
- decision and reasons recorded
- outcome published or reported
Frequently asked questions
After 31 October 2026 can I still object to or support a planning application?
Yes. You can still comment on planning applications in the usual way. Your comments will still be considered before a decision is made. How we have considered your views will be set out in the officer's report.
Does this mean councillors no longer have a role?
No. There will still be a planning committee made up of councillors which determines applications. Councillors can still raise planning issues and represent community concerns. They can also request major applications are considered by the referral process. However, the national rules limit when an application can be referred to planning committee.
Will fewer applications go to planning committee?
Most likely. More routine, technical and smaller-scale applications will be decided by planning officers under delegated powers.
Who decides whether an application can go to committee?
For applications that may be eligible, the national rules require the council’s nominated planning officer and nominated councillor to agree whether the application meets the criteria for referral.
What types of applications must be decided by officers?
The national rules include several types of routine or technical application, such as householder applications, minor residential development, minor commercial development, discharge of conditions, prior approvals, non-material amendments and certificates of lawfulness.
Why is this happening?
The Government says the aim is to make planning decision-making clearer and more consistent, and to allow committees to focus on proposals that matter most to an area.