The National Scheme of Delegation (NSD) came into force on 31 October 2026 and introduces a new national framework for determining which planning applications are decided by planning officers and which can be considered by planning committee. The reforms are intended to bring greater consistency across local authorities and allow planning committees to focus on the most significant proposals.
Until now, each local planning authority operated its own delegation arrangements. As a result, the route to determination could vary considerably between councils, with local call-in procedures and committee referral thresholds often differing from one authority to another. The Government’s reforms seek to provide a more consistent approach across England.
What has changed?
The new arrangements broadly divide applications into two categories.
Schedule 1 applications
These applications must be determined by planning officers and cannot be referred to planning committee under the National Scheme of Delegation. This includes matters such as:
- Householder applications.
- Minor commercial development.
- Minor residential development.
- Certificates of Lawfulness.
- Discharge of conditions.
- Many prior approval applications.
Schedule 2 applications
These generally cover larger or more complex proposals. However, being a Schedule 2 application does not automatically mean it will be determined by committee. Officer determination remains the default position unless specific statutory tests are met.
Examples include:
- Major residential and commercial development.
- Listed building consent applications.
- Advertisement consent applications.
- Tree Preservation Order applications.
- Certain Section 73 applications.
So when can an application go to committee?
For a Schedule 2 application to be referred to committee, a nominated officer and nominated member must agree that it raises either:
- A significant planning matter; or
- An economic, social or environmental issue of significance to the local area.
This represents a notable shift from previous arrangements and is intended to provide a more consistent national approach to committee referrals.
What does this mean in practice?
For many applicants, the most noticeable change is likely to be that fewer applications are referred to planning committee simply because they attract local interest or a significant number of objections. Instead, committee involvement is intended to focus on proposals that raise genuinely significant planning issues.
Our view
The National Scheme of Delegation is one of the most significant procedural planning reforms in recent years. Whilst planning committees will remain an important part of the planning system, their role is likely to become more focused on proposals that raise significant planning considerations or issues of wider local importance.
For developers, landowners and promoters, the reforms should provide greater clarity regarding the likely route to determination and greater consistency in how applications are considered across local authorities.
