Government regulations were approved by Parliament on 30 June which require councils to delegate decisions on planning applications to officers. It is referred to as the “national scheme of delegation” (NSD).
The power for the government to take this course of action is set out, in principle, in the Planning and Infrastructure Act, 2025, section 54.
The regulations split planning applications into two schedules:
- Schedule 1: Applications that must always be delegated eg residential developments of up to nine homes, reserved matters on certain types of outline planning permissions and variations to planning agreements (also known as section 106 agreements)
- Schedule 2: Any other planning applications, with government guidance that these also should be delegated to officers for decisions.
There is a caveat that a senior officer (ie the chief planning officer) and an elected member (the planning committee chairperson) can decide that an application can go to planning committee but only in a limited number of circumstances.
There are several reasons why the government is pursuing this approach including:
- Belief that planning applications decided by planning committees slow down the development process
- Cases where planning committees refuse planning applications against the advice of officers.
But the government has not provided any robust research to support these statements. Of course, there are anecdotal cases to back up these propositions. Coventry City Council Planning Committee, for example, refused an application for residential development on the former gas works site off Abbots Lane against the advice of officers. The applicant appealed and won with costs awarded against the Council. Nevertheless, anecdotal cases do not amount to hard evidence.
How will these regulations affect decision making on planning applications in Coventry? Most planning applications are already delegated to officers. But controversial cases where local communities and individuals have commented on applications can go to Planning Committee enabling groups, if they so wish, to make a brief statement at committee meetings. For example, Coventry Society attended and spoke at Planning Committee meetings against two proposals in 2025/26 for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA).
The Council is now in the process of determining how these new regulations will apply. It also must decide on the number of councillors who will form the Planning Committee. Government regulations state a maximum of 13, but guidance recommendations a lower figure.
Where does this leave local community groups and individuals who wish to comment on planning applications? In some respects, there is no change. Comments can still be made. But the likelihood is reduced that their voice will be heard at Planning Committee even if there is passionate support or opposition to a development proposal.