Councils reluctantly approve constitution changes for new planning process

South Oxfordshire District Council last week discussed significant changes to the planning process from the end of October, including a new standard national system that will see more applications determined by council officers.

Government reforms to planning committees are set to come into force from 31 October 2026, with big changes in the way the planning process works locally.

Key changes include:

• A mandatory national scheme of delegation. Where previously, every local council created its own rules, the new system creates one standard rulebook for the whole country – with the aim of speeding up and streamlining the planning approval process.
• Most everyday planning applications e.g. house extensions will automatically be handed to professional planning officers to decide. Only very large (over 9 houses) developments, complex, or highly controversial projects are allowed to be decided by a planning committee.
• A smaller project can only be pushed up to the committee if it passes a strict “gateway test” to demonstrate that the proposal has significant impacts affecting the wider community, and that request will need to be agreed by a nominated officer.

• Town councils retain their statutory right to be notified of planning applications in their area and to submit formal representations. Town councils will be able to keep running their own internal planning committees to look over local blueprints, debate proposals, and formulate their official responses. Henley Town Council have yet to respond on this.  Town Council and district councillor call-ins are not permissible under the new legislation.

• A cap on committee sizes at a maximum of 13 members and enforcement of strict planning training and certification requirements.

At two special council meetings on 23 and 24 September, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils met to discuss the impact of the planning changes and consider the necessary constitution changes needed.

After a lengthy debate, the necessary changes were approved.

Following the meetings, both Councils’ constitutions will now be amended to take effect from 31 October to ensure decision-making arrangements follow the law.

The agreed changes seek to make the minimum amendments necessary while retaining the maximum level of member involvement permitted under the new legislation.

Cllr Ben Higgins, South Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet Member for Planning Development Management, said: “These mandated changes take power away from locally elected representatives at both parish and district level and are the opposite of devolution. From the end of October, parish council and district councillor call-ins are not permissible under the new legislation. Under the existing regime, committee passed the vast majority of applications for residential dwellings when applications were referred.

“These changes will make at best a marginal difference in the number of homes built, at a significant cost to local accountability and potential faith in local democratic processes. Our hands are now tied as the government is enforcing these rules across the country. We will work with our dedicated planning officers to implement the requirements – and do everything we can to make the best of this challenging new situation.”