Press Releases

Government proposals to reform and modernise planning committees do not go far enough and are a ‘missed opportunity’ to further improve the system according to evidence submitted this week by the British Property Federation.

In a response to a MHCLG consultation (closed on 21 July) the BPF has welcomed a new national scheme of delegation, whereby only projects of considerable scale, complexity or significance will be  required to go to planning committee, streamlining the decision-making process.

However, the BPF argues that there is more Government can do to improve how committee meetings run.

In its evidence the BPF argues that applicants should be allowed to interject in committee discussions when factually incorrect information is cited, as there is currently no allowance for this.

It has also called for planning committees to make greater use of expert opinion in their decision-making, with committees  able to appoint independent members or call expert witnesses to provide further insight on technical issues. This was referenced in an earlier Government working paper but has not been taken forward.

The BPF welcomes the introduction of mandatory training for councillors but calls for this to cover the economics of development process, planning  for critical employment uses such as logistics as well as newer forms of housing such as Build-to-Rent and co-living. 

Sam Bensted, Assistant  Director (Planning and Development), British Property Federation said: “The Government’s proposal to introduce a national scheme of delegation is welcome and should create greater consistency over which applications go to planning committees and which are decided by officers. However, the opportunity to drive more meaningful improvements in how committees operate has not yet been fully grasped.

“The Government should reconsider how expert opinion can be more effectively integrated into planning committee processes to further strengthen decision-making. Training for committee members is also critical but it must address the full complexity of commercial development and urban regeneration - not just the fundamentals of housing delivery. Equally important is ensuring the training covers committee members’ specific roles and responsibilities  in the planning decision-making process so they can perform their duties effectively.

“We look forward to shaping these proposals with Government as they move forward.”