The government publishes its response to the consultation (until 13/01/2025) relating to statutory consultees …

The government has published the following response to the consultation titled "Reforms to the statutory consultee system" (which ran for 8 weeks from 18/11/2025 until 13/01/2026):

Response document:

  • August 2026: Reforms to the statutory consultee system - government response (link) (pdf print version of HTML webpage).

Notes:

  • The "Ministerial foreword" at the start of the above response document includes the following information:
    - "Having carefully considered the extensive feedback received, the government has decided to proceed with removing statutory consultee status from The Gardens Trust and Theatres Trust, supported by the mitigations set out in this response. However, [the government has] determined to retain Sport England as a statutory consultee, while narrowing the scope of applications on which it must be consulted so that its expertise is focused on the most significant cases.".
    - "This approach will preserve statutory oversight where we consider it is most needed, while reducing the regulatory burden where policy outcomes can be secured through other mechanisms, including national planning policy, guidance, plan-making and public consultation. The government will also take forward changes to reduce the scope of advice provided by some of the largest statutory consultees. Taken together, these reforms will help improve the performance, efficiency and proportionality of the statutory consultee system.".
    - "Regulations will follow in due course to bring these reforms into force and support will be available from the Planning Advisory Service to help LPAs implement relevant requirements effectively.".

Other sources of information:

  • November 2025: Reforms to the statutory consultee system (link) (pdf print version of HTML webpage).
    - Note: For more information about the above document, please view this post.
  • August 2026: Creating a clear, rules-based planning system - Policy paper (link).
  • August 2026: Creating a clear, rules-based planning system - letter to local authority leaders and mayors (link).
  • August 2026: Creating a clear, rules-based planning system - letter to stakeholders (link).
  • August 2026: Government press release - "Full steam ahead to fast-track more homes near stations" (link).