From 31 October 2026, the National Scheme of Delegation will come into force, changing the way planning decisions are made by officers and members of Development Control Committee.
These are mandatory government changes to Planning Committees that mean significant changes in the way decision-making works locally.
The new system aims to create one standard process, which by law we will now need to follow.
One of the most important changes is that a request from a ward councillor or Parish/Town Council to call in an application will no longer necessarily mean it can go before the Planning Committee.
However, this does not mean that people's views will no longer be considered.
Residents, town and parish councils and other organisations can continue to comment on planning applications, and relevant material planning considerations will continue to form part of the assessment.
What is changing is who makes the final decision.
The new scheme of delegation introduces a two-tier system:
Schedule 1 – these applications will always be delegated to officers. They include:
This means that even if local residents, a town or parish council or a councillor have significant concerns about a Schedule 1 application, those objections will not enable it to be referred to Planning Committee.
Schedule 2 – applications will be delegated to officers by default but may be referred to committee in exceptional circumstances where they meet specific criteria and pass a Gateway Test. They include:
Applications normally in Schedule 1 but connected to a Schedule 2 application
Schedule 1 applications will fall into Schedule 2 where:
Find further information about application types on the government website.
A Schedule 2 application can only be referred (Request to call in a planning application) if it passes a Gateway Test.
This request will be considered by the Chair of Planning Committee, or the Vice-chair in their absence, alongside the Chief Planning Officer, or their deputy in their absence.
They must agree that the application is eligible and that it raises either:
If they do not agree that the application should be referred to committee, it will be determined by planning officers.
The way we consult residents, interested parties, and statutory consultees will not change. We will continue to publicise planning applications and invite comments before a decision is made.
All applications will continue to be assessed by planning officers in accordance with the development plan and any other material planning considerations.
Application documents will continue to be published on our online planning register, together with reports and decision notices where available.
An own-interest application is a planning application made by, or on behalf of, the Council, one of its councillors or an officer. These applications follow a separate process under the National Scheme of Delegation to ensure that any potential conflict of interest is identified and managed appropriately. They are not automatically decided by the Planning Committee, but may be referred to it depending on the nature and extent of the interest.
Yes, local knowledge is extremely important. Residents, businesses, community groups, town and parish councils and other organisations can continue to submit comments on planning applications.
The changes are about how the final decision is made, rather than whether people can have their say. Relevant planning matters raised through representations will continue to be considered when an application is assessed.
Not necessarily. This is one of the most significant changes.
From 31 October, Schedule 1 applications cannot be taken to Planning Committee.
For eligible Schedule 2 applications, a ward councillor can request that an application is considered through the new gateway process, but this does not guarantee it will ultimately go before the committee.
No. Representations will continue to be considered when they raise relevant planning matters.
What is changing is the connection between objections and whether an application can be considered at committee. This means it will be particularly important for anyone commenting on an application to clearly explain the planning reasons for supporting or opposing it.
For an eligible Schedule 2 application, a ward councillor can still request that it is referred for consideration, but there will be a new process.
Councillors will make the request by the existing format Request to call in a planning application.
The request will then go through the gateway process to determine whether the application should be considered by Planning Committee.
The nominated councillor and nominated planning officer will consider referrals at a gateway review meeting.
For an application to go to committee, they must agree that it is eligible and meets the gateway test. If they disagree, the application will be determined by officers.
The outcome will be recorded against the relevant planning application.
Town and parish councils should continue to consider planning applications and submit comments as they do now.
Where a Schedule 2 application raises significant local planning issues, town and parish councils can request that an eligible application goes through the gateway process, although this does not guarantee that it will be considered by committee.
No. Under Schedule 1, householder extensions and developments of fewer than 10 homes must be decided by officers. Neither Ward Councillors, Parish Councils, nor public petitions have the legal power to force these applications to a committee after 31 October 2026.
A referral is not automatic. If an application falls under Schedule 2, and you have concerns you may want to contact your Parish/Town Council or Ward Councillor. They can submit a formal request which will be reviewed by a nominated senior officer and a nominated committee Councillor. Both must agree that the application meets the strict gateway tests for a committee debate.
The standard statutory consultation windows (usually 21 days) remain the same. However, to process minor applications more efficiently any call-in request has to be made within the 21days.
