From 31 October 2026, the Government's new National Scheme of Delegation sets out clearer rules for when planning applications should be decided by a Planning Officer and when they may be referred to a Planning Committee.
The changes are designed to improve the speed and quality of planning decisions by limiting the types of applications that can be considered by a Committee. Importantly, individual councillors can no longer simply 'call in' applications for Committee consideration, and objections alone will no longer trigger a referral.
Under The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026, planning applications are now divided into two categories:
Schedule 1 – Applications decided by Planning Officers
These applications must be determined by a Planning Officer rather than a Planning Committee.
They include:
- Minor commercial developments
- Householder planning applications
- Minor residential developments
- Certificates of lawfulness for existing or proposed uses or developments
- Most reserved matters approvals
- Prior approvals
- Non-material amendments (Section 96A)
- Minor material amendments (Section 73) relating to Schedule 1 developments
Schedule 2 – Applications that may be referred to Planning Committee
Some applications can still be considered by a Planning Committee, although referral is no longer automatic.
These include applications relating to:
- Listed Buildings
- Larger residential and commercial developments (non-minor)
- Reserved matters associated with large outline planning permissions
- Advertisement consents
- Tree Preservation Orders
- Minor material amendments (Section 73) relating to Schedule 2 developments
However, even where an application falls within Schedule 2, it can only be referred to Committee where both a nominated councillor and a nominated Planning Officer agree that:
- The application raises an issue of economic, social or environmental significance to the local area; or
- The application raises a significant planning matter.
What does this mean for planning applications?
In practical terms, the changes mean that more planning applications will be decided directly by Planning Officers, with fewer going before Planning Committees.
The Government's intention is to make the planning process more efficient, while ensuring that applications raising significant local or planning issues can still receive Committee consideration.
For anyone preparing or submitting a planning application, understanding which category a proposed development falls into is now particularly important, as it can affect how and when a decision is made.
How can Prism Planning help?
At Prism Planning, we can advise on whether your proposed development falls within Schedule 1 or Schedule 2, and help you understand the likelihood of your application being decided by a Planning Officer or referred to Committee.
If you're planning a development and would like to understand how these changes might affect your application, please get in touch.
