Insights / Planning in England
StatMap prepares customers for 31 October planning committee reforms
New delegation recording tools, shaped with customer planning teams. Practical preparation ahead of England’s national scheme.
StatMap has developed dedicated Scheme of Delegation recording tools in HorizoNext Planning ahead of the 31 October reforms. Discussions with customer planning teams have shaped the work, translating new recording needs into practical changes on the application’s Decisions tab.
The national scheme takes effect in England on 31 October 2026, as confirmed by S.I. 2026/854. Our focus is on helping councils capture the information behind their decision route clearly within the planning case.
What StatMap has prepared
The implemented changes support both existing and Next planning interfaces. Officers can record Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 against the application. Selecting Schedule 2 brings together the criterion, a Goes to Committee choice and optional Delegation Reasons. The criterion and committee choice must be completed before saving a Schedule 2 record.
Keeping these details with the application gives teams a consistent place to record the selected route and its supporting explanation. Required fields help prevent incomplete Schedule 2 records; saved information can be reviewed and edited in either interface. User guidance accompanies the change.
These are recording tools: the current implementation does not automatically arrange committee consideration or change the Decision Level. The authority’s nominated decision-makers still apply the statutory tests. Further workflow requirements remain under review with customer teams, including own-interest handling and the connection to decision records.
What changes?
The regulations establish three decision routes. First check the application type, definitions and exceptions, including whether the separate own-interest route applies.
Schedule 1
Officer decision required
Includes householder applications, defined minor residential development, discharge of conditions and prior approvals.
Related listed-building applications can change the route.
Schedule 2
Officer decision by default
Committee referral needs agreement from both the nominated officer and nominated member.
A qualifying issue of local significance or a significant planning matter. Major applications do not automatically go to committee.
Own-interest · Regulation 6
A separate referral route
For applications involving the authority, its members or officers. Committee referral needs the nominated pair’s agreement.
Without that agreement, an officer determines the application.
Summary of regulations 4–6. Read the regulations and schedules for the full definitions and exceptions.
For Schedule 2 referrals, the significance test concerns an issue of local economic, social or environmental significance, or a significant planning matter assessed against the development plan and other material considerations.
Committees determining applications under regulations 5 or 6 are capped at 13 members.
Which authorities are covered?
The scheme applies in England, including relevant mineral planning authorities. Development corporations, the Homes and Communities Agency, National Park Authorities and the Broads Authority are excluded from the relevant-authority definition. See section 54 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.
What happens to local call-in arrangements?
MHCLG’s statutory guidance says existing rules allowing councillors to require committee consideration, or automatically triggering it after a set number of objections, must be brought into line with the national scheme. A request for referral is not an entitlement to committee determination.
Authorities must have regard to the guidance. It says they should record cases considered for referral, the outcome and reasons, report these regularly to committee and publish them on their website. The new recording tools support capturing information on the case; councils still need to agree how their reporting and publication arrangements will operate.
Practical checks before 31 October
Software preparation is one part of readiness. Planning, democratic services and legal teams should:
- Confirm the local update. Agree availability, installation and configuration with StatMap, then test representative cases with the people who will use the process.
- Align governance and practice. Update delegations, committee membership and nominated roles; review pending applications and forthcoming agendas.
- Brief staff and members. Confirm how referral requests, reasons, outcomes and publication will be handled, including own-interest cases.
StatMap’s preparation brings customer requirements and software changes together ahead of the deadline. Customers can contact their StatMap team to review the update and their local arrangements.