New national scheme of delegation to reshape planning decisions

The government has published guidance that will change how many planning applications are decided in England, moving a significant share of decisions from committees to professional planning officers.

The statutory guidance on the national scheme of delegation was published on 1 June 2026 and comes into force on 31 October 2026. By that date local planning authorities must have amended their constitutions to reflect the new arrangements.

Under the scheme, a defined set of applications must be determined by officers rather than by a planning committee. These include householder applications, minor residential and commercial development, the discharge of conditions, and reserved matters for outline permissions of fewer than 500 dwellings. Larger and more sensitive applications, including major schemes and reserved matters for outline permissions of 500 homes or more, carry a presumption of officer delegation but may still be referred to committee where set criteria are met. The guidance also caps the size of a planning committee at thirteen members.

The measure is intended to speed up decision-making and to focus committee time on the applications where member scrutiny adds most value. For landowners and promoters bringing forward strategic sites, the practical effect is that much of the detailed work following an outline consent, in particular the approval of reserved matters, will be handled by officers under delegated powers.

The change forms part of a wider programme of reform introduced by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.