New Legislation – relating to the discharge of LPA functions (31/10/2026) …

The following 1 new Statutory Instrument (SI) comes into force on 31/10/2026:

New Legislation:

  • October 2026: SI 2026 No. 854 - The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026 (pdf) (link).

Notes:

  • Note: The "Explanatory Memorandum" (link) to the above SI 2026 No. 854 includes the following information:
    - "This instrument [SI 2026 No. 854] sets out a national scheme of delegation for planning decisions which must be followed by all relevant local planning authorities in England. It sets out types of planning application which must always be delegated to planning officers and other types of planning application which may instead, in some circumstances, be referred to a planning committee (this and future references to planning committees include sub-committees) for determination. The aim is to ensure that there is greater clarity and consistency about the role of planning committees in planning decision making. It is intended to enable planning committees to work more effectively by allowing them to focus on the key development proposals that matter in their area, enabling other, often more minor and technical, decisions to be made by planning officers.".
    - "The instrument [SI 2026 No. 854] also sets the maximum number of members which may sit on a planning committee of a local authority in England. This measure is intended to allow planning committees to operate more efficiently and improve the quality of decision making.".

Other Sources of Information:

  • December 2024: Government press release - "Major overhaul of planning committees to get Britain building" (link).
  • December 2024: Planning Reform Working Paper - Planning Committees (pdf) (link).
    - Note: For more information about the above document, please view this post.
  • May 2025: Government press release - "Government backs SME builders to get Britain building" (link).
  • May 2025: Reform of planning committees - technical consultation (link) (pdf print version of HTML webpage).
    - Note: For more information about the above document, please view this post.
  • March 2026: Reform of planning committees - technical consultation - government response (link) (pdf print version of HTML webpage).
    - Note: For more information about the above document, please view this post
  • March 2026: Planning committee reform - statutory consultation on draft Regulations and guidance (link) (pdf print version of HTML webpage).
    - Note: For more information about the above document, please view this post.
  • June 2026: Planning committee reform - statutory consultation on draft regulations and guidance - government response (link) (pdf print version of HTML webpage).
    - Note: For more information about the above document, please view this post.
  • July 2026: "Explanatory Memorandum" to SI 2026 No. 854 (pdf) (link).
  • 21 July 2026: Letter from MHCLG to Chief Planning Officers about planning committees, biodiversity net gain, and planning fees (pdf) (link).
  • Ongoing (from June 2026 onwards): MHCLG Guidance - "Planning Committees and the National Scheme of Delegation of Planning Functions: Guidance for local planning authorities in England" (link).

Updates to the Planning Jungle website: