Government planning rules strip councillors of call-in powers

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 06:04 · Archive

New government planning rules have removed councillors' power to call applications before planning committees across England.

The Government's National Scheme of Delegation came into force across England on 31 October, replacing councils' individual planning arrangements with national rules. The scheme determines which planning applications are decided by officers and which can reach elected planning committees, removing councillors' power to call applications before a committee.

Danny Kruger, Reform UK MP for East Wiltshire, raised the issue in the House of Commons just two days after the rules came into force. He acknowledged that Swindon and Wiltshire councils are building new housing, but argued that the Government had removed an important protection.

'The Government have now abolished an essential safeguard for communities against inappropriate planning, which is the power of councillors to call in applications,' Kruger told Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook. He asked what steps the Government was taking to review the measure and whether it would reconsider if the reform proved unworkable.

Pennycook responded that the reform had only just commenced and that the Government had already committed to reviewing it after a two-year period. 'That is what we will do,' he said.

How it is being reported

• New rules stripping councillors of planning powers blastedAn MP has challenged the Government over controversial new planning rules.Wiltshire Times · 5 Nov, 05:00
• New rules stripping councillors of planning powers blastedAn MP has challenged the Government over controversial new planning rules.Gazette & Herald · 5 Nov, 05:00
• New rules stripping councillors of planning powers blastedAn MP has challenged the Government over controversial new planning rules.Swindon Advertiser · 5 Nov, 05:00

In this story: Danny Kruger · Matthew Pennycook · Reform UK · Swindon · Wiltshire · England

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 · Corrections log