Refreshing Planning Committees: What England’s New Technical Consultation Means

England is undergoing a transformative review of its planning committees, launched with the “Reform of planning committees: technical consultation” published on 28 May 2025. It builds on proposals found in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, and the consultation, which closes on 23 July 2025, invites input on three core reforms: delegation, committee size/composition, and mandatory training.

National Scheme of Delegation

Currently, each council sets its own rules about which planning applications go to committee, leading to inconsistency. The government wants a standard, national scheme distinguishing between:

• Tier A: Minor or routine applications handled by planning officers.

• Tier B: More complex or controversial projects routed to committees, subject to a local gateway check by the chair and chief planner.

  
  

This aims to streamline decision-making, reduce delays, and give developers greater certainty.

Size and Composition of Committees

The government considered creating separate committees for major strategic developments but decided not to mandate this. Instead, they will limit committee size to a maximum of 11 members, while allowing smaller teams where appropriate. This reflects feedback that smaller, focused committees foster better debate, though local political balance must still be maintained.

Mandatory Training for Committee Members

A Planning Advisory Service survey revealed around 45% of planning councillors feel inadequately trained. The consultation proposes compulsory training and certification before members may participate in planning committees, aiming to raise consistency, skill, and public accountability across all councils.

Why It Matters

These reforms seek a better balance: empower planning professionals to manage routine cases efficiently while ensuring democratic oversight for significant or contentious developments. They also aim to eliminate bottlenecks and unpredictability that hamper housebuilding targets currently struggling to meet ambitions for 1.5 million homes over the next Parliament.

Minor applications may not need to be considered at Planning Committee