Westmorland and Furness moves to single planning committee

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 06:43 · Archive

Westmorland and Furness Council will move to a single planning committee from 31 October under national reforms designed to streamline the planning process. The new committee, comprising 13 councillors, will replace the current four-committee structure including three local area planning committees.

Most applications will be decided by planning officers rather than councillors. Extensions, small residential or commercial developments, and reserved matters for schemes under 500 homes or 50,000 square metres of floorspace will be classified as 'schedule 1' applications and decided under delegated powers. Only 'schedule 2' applications—including larger housing schemes and some listed building consents—will go before the planning committee.

Applications raising 'economic, social or environmental issues of significance to the local area' or 'significant planning matters' regarding the development plan can still be referred to the committee for decision. The council agreed the structure in September to comply with changes to the Town and Country Planning Regulation Act, introduced by the government earlier this year and taking effect at the end of October.

How it is being reported

• Major planning shake-up means fewer applications decided by councillorsNew planning rules will change how applications are decided.NW Evening Mail · 11 Oct, 06:00
• Major planning shake-up means fewer applications decided by councillorsNew planning rules will change how applications are decided.Westmorland Gazette · 11 Oct, 06:00

In this story: Westmorland and Furness Council · Westmorland and Furness

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem