31/10/2026
⚠ Important Planning Regulations changes come into effect today.
Following changes to the law, the way councils must manage some planning applications has changed. Councillors can no longer 'call in' applications on a specified list for planning committees to consider; the decisions will instead be 'delegated' to Planning Officers.
For these types of applications, Councillors can no longer automatically act on your behalf, meaning that it's more important than ever for residents to take an active role.
You will still be able to feed back on applications in the usual way - though not by making representations to Councillors - and we encourage you to be aware of what might affect you - for example, keeping an eye on local media and looking out for the bright yellow notices in your area.
The types of application affected include:
- Householder development
- Discharge of conditions
- Permission in principle (1-9 dwellings)
- Minor residential development (development of up to nine dwellings on sites below 0.5 hectares)
- Non-material amendments
- Prior approval applications
- Minor commercial development
- Section 73 applications where the related planning permission was a Schedule 1 planning permission
- Reserved matters approval where the outline planning permission is for fewer than 500 dwellings or less than 50,000 square metres of floorspace
- Certificates of lawfulness of existing/proposed use or development, and certificates of lawfulness for proposed works to listed buildings
- Section 106A applications where a planning obligation is connected to a Schedule 1 planning permission
- Biodiversity Gain Plans
- Certificates of Appropriate Alternative Development
Schedule 2 applications can be called-in by the Chief Planning Officer and Chair of the Planning Committee, if they meet certain criteria. These types of application include:
- Planning applications which are not householder, minor commercial or minor residential
- Applications to modify or discharge a planning obligation under section 106A of the TCPA 1990
- Applications for Listed Building Consent
- Applications for the variation or discharge of conditions related to a listed building
- Applications for advertisement consent
- Tree Preservation Order applications
- Applications to develop land without compliance with conditions under Section 73(1)
- Reserved matters related to large outline planning permissions (500 dwellings or 50,000sqm floor space)
Find out more by searching for 'National Scheme of Delegation'
