Changes to how planning applications are referred to Planning Committee

The Government is introducing a mandatory National Scheme of Delegation for planning functions. This means all councils must follow national rules about which planning applications are decided by officers and which applications may be referred to Planning Committee. Shropshire Council must update its local arrangements, so they comply with the national rules.

The changes do not remove the ability of residents, applicants, agents, Ward Members, Town Councils, Parish Councils or statutory consultees to comment on planning applications. Comments will continue to be considered where they raise material planning issues. The main change is that comments, objections or call-in requests will no longer automatically decide whether an application goes to Planning Committee.

Shropshire already uses an agenda setting process to review whether applications should be reported to Planning Committee. The national scheme broadly aligns with that approach, so the overall number of applications ultimately considered by Planning Committee is expected to remain relatively consistent. The main practical change is that fewer matters are expected to reach the gateway process which is replacing the agenda setting because automatic referral routes will be removed.

Because Shropshire is already a high-performing council with an established agenda setting process, the impact is expected to be less pronounced than in poorer-performing councils or authorities where automatic committee referral has historically been more common. The Council’s approach is intended to implement the mandatory national rules clearly and lawfully while maintaining a proportionate and transparent planning process.