The Government has set out far‑reaching proposals to change how planning decisions are made in England, with the aim of speeding up the system, improving consistency and reducing unnecessary delay. Central to these reforms is a move away from requiring planning committees to determine a wide range of applications, with greater reliance on delegated officer decisions instead.

These changes form part of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and subsequent draft regulations and consultation published in March 2026, which together propose a fundamental reshaping of the decision‑making role of planning committees.

How planning decisions are currently made

At present, all local planning authorities operate their own schemes of delegation, setting out which applications are determined by officers and which are determined by committees. While the majority of decisions are already delegated, around 96 per cent nationally, the criteria for referral to committee vary widely between authorities, which many have argued creates inconsistency and uncertainty.  

Applications may be referred to the planning committee for a range of reasons, including:

• The scale or significance of development
• Levels of public objection
• Local political sensitivities

The Government considers this variation to be a significant contributor to delay, particularly where policy-compliant developments are repeatedly revisited by committees and subsequently overturned on appeal.

What is the Government proposing

The headline reform is the introduction of a National Scheme of Delegation, replacing locally determined delegation arrangements with a nationally consistent framework. Under the proposed system, planning applications would fall into one of two categories:

1. Applications always delegated to officers

A prescribed list of applications would always be determined by planning officers, with no ability for referral to committee. This includes:

• Householder applications
• Minor residential and commercial developments
• Prior approvals and certificates of lawfulness
• Discharge of conditions and non‑material amendments

These categories reflect applications that are typically policy‑driven and technical in nature.

2. Applications are presumed delegated

All other applications would be delegated by default, with committee involvement reserved for exceptional cases rather than routine. The committee would only become involved if a statutory “gateway test” is met, requiring agreement between the Chief Planning Officer and a nominated elected member (expected to be the committee chair) that the proposal raises issues of genuine local significance.

Importantly, traditional triggers such as:

• Automatic referral based on objection numbers, or
• Ward councillor call‑in requests would no longer apply under the new framework

What does this mean for anyone submitting an application?

If the proposal is carried forward, it should reduce delays or refusals of applications but importantly they also place greater emphasis on:

• Strong officer engagement
• Clear policy compliance
• Well‑prepared applications capable of withstanding scrutiny without committee involvement

While fewer schemes may be considered by elected members, the importance of robust planning submissions and early professional advice will increase, not diminish. It also raises the question of greater scrutiny of planning officers in local authorities, and it may well have the opposite effect, as there might be reluctance to determine certain applications. The proposals could also be seen as undemocratic.

The changing role of planning committees

Planning committees are not being removed altogether. Instead, their role is expected to become narrower and more strategic, focusing on developments of genuine economic, social or environmental significance.

• Alongside delegation reforms, proposals also include:

• Smaller planning committees
• Mandatory training and certification for committee members
• Clearer accountability around decision‑making responsibility

The challenge for local authorities will be maintaining public confidence while delivering faster, more consistent outcomes.

What does this mean for you?

These reforms signal a clear shift towards a more officer‑led, rules‑based planning system. Navigating this environment successfully will rely on:

• Clear policy‑driven arguments
• Early identification of potential risks
• Professional planning judgement from the outset