Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026
Councils are adopting new rules for planning application delegation, shifting decisions to officers, due to the 2026 Regulations.
Greenwich Council formally adopted new rules for planning application delegations on 23 September 2026, shifting decision-making power to officers for many routine applications, including Schedule 1 developments. This follows Hounslow Council's approval of constitutional changes on 15 September 2026, which also introduce a national scheme for officer determination of Schedule 1 and 2 applications.
These changes are a direct response to the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026, which come into effect on 31 October 2026. The regulations mandate a shift towards officer delegation for specified planning functions. Harrow Council is scheduled to discuss this topic at its Council meeting on 1 October 2026.
Key facts
- Greenwich Council adopted new planning delegation rules on 23 September 2026. Source
- Hounslow Council approved constitutional changes, including planning amendments, on 15 September 2026. Source
- The Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026 come into effect on 31 October 2026. Source
- The regulations introduce a national scheme for delegation and referral of planning applications. Source 1 Source 2
- Schedule 1 applications will be determined by officers under the new rules. Source 1 Source 2
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.