National government has introduced new rules designed to speed up the planning process, which will result in fewer planning applications being determined by a planning committee. Most household planning applications for extensions, minor residential and commercial developments, and reserved matters approvals for schemes under 500 dwellings or 50,000 square metres will now be classified as ‘schedule 1’ applications. Under normal circumstances, these will be determined by council planning officers under delegated powers.
Planning committees, composed of local councillors, will now primarily handle ‘schedule 2’ applications. This includes applications for larger housing schemes and certain listed building consents. However, applications raising 'economic, social or environmental issues of significance to the local area' or presenting a 'significant planning matter' may still be referred to the committee.
The new instructions also include provisions for applications submitted by the council itself, its officers, or councillors, or where a personal interest is declared. These can be referred to the planning committee to 'support transparency and propriety'.
These changes are part of the Town and Country Planning Regulation Act updates and are scheduled to take effect on 31 October 2026. To prepare, Westmorland and Furness Council agreed at a late September meeting to move to a single planning committee from that date, dissolving the four existing committees, including local area planning committees.
The new single planning committee will consist of 13 members, the maximum permitted, representing all areas of Westmorland and Furness to ensure political balance and geographical representation. Councillors noted that with more applications becoming ‘schedule 1’ and delegated to officers, the current system of four committees was no longer necessary.
A report presented to the Full Council highlighted the legal implications of non-compliance. It stated that failing to make the statutory changes could leave the council open to legal challenge, with decisions taken outside the statutory scheme potentially subject to judicial review and subsequent quashing.
