Government Planning Reforms
Faster Approvals or Just Fewer Checks?
The government has announced a series of reforms to the planning system, promising to reduce bureaucracy and speed up development. These changes, which include updates to delegated decision-making and the role of statutory consultees, form part of a broader drive to accelerate housebuilding and economic growth.
Key changes announced:
- More decisions to be made under delegated powers
One of the most notable updates is the expansion of delegated decision-making, allowing more applications to be determined by planning officers rather than going to committee. In theory, this should reduce delays, particularly for smaller and less contentious schemes, which often get caught up in scheduling issues and political debates at committee level. While this should lead to quicker approvals, it remains to be seen whether local authorities have the resources and appetite to fully embrace this shift. - Reforming the role of statutory consultees
The government is undertaking a review of statutory consultees to determine whether certain bodies should no longer be required to comment on planning applications. Organisations such as Sport England, Theatres Trust, and The Gardens Trust are likely to lose their formal statutory role in the process, with the argument that this will remove unnecessary hurdles. However, there is a risk that losing input from such groups could lead to unforeseen consequences, particularly where specialist expertise has previously helped shape more sustainable and community-focused developments. - A new performance framework for faster decisions
Ministers are promising a new oversight framework to hold decision-makers to account and ensure that applications move through the system more efficiently. While details remain unclear, this could involve tighter deadlines and stronger incentives for local authorities to process applications within statutory timeframes. The challenge will be balancing speed with the need for thorough and considered decision-making.
What does this mean for developers and applicants?
At face value, these reforms should make the planning system quicker and more responsive. More decisions being made under delegated powers could mean fewer delays caused by overburdened planning committees, potentially allowing schemes to progress at a faster pace.
However, reducing the role of statutory consultees and increasing ministerial oversight could also lead to unintended consequences. Removing consultees from the process may make some applications smoother, but it could also result in less scrutiny over key issues such as heritage, community infrastructure, and environmental considerations. Likewise, tighter performance monitoring may push local authorities to make quicker decisions, but whether this results in better outcomes is another question.
As ever, the success of these changes will depend on how they are implemented by local authorities and whether they genuinely lead to a more efficient system or simply shift bottlenecks elsewhere.
Get in touch to find out if these reforms might impact your projects