Who makes local planning decisions?

Local planning decisions are made by the local planning authority. Key roles in decision making on planning applications include (1):

Planning officers:

Planning officers process planning applications. For minor, local applications the planning officer will make a decision using the powers delegated to them. For larger, major planning applications, the planning officer will make a recommendation, which will then be considered by a planning committee made up of local elected politicians.

Elected Members (also known as councillors):

Local authority Elected Members are involved in planning matters to represent the interests of the whole community. Where Elected Members make decisions on planning, they must do so in accordance with the development plan (that is, the umbrella term comprising the local plan and neighbourhood plans), unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Elected Members also sit on the planning committee which makes decisions on more complex, strategic planning applications. Members must maintain an open mind when considering planning applications.

Secretary of State for the Department for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

The Secretary of State oversees the planning system and holds direct responsibility for a small number of planning decisions including (2):

• Calling-in planning applications – This is when the Secretary of State directs the local planning authority to refer a planning application to him for decision
• Recovering appeals – This occurs where an applicant lodges an appeal, and the Secretary of State decides how the appeal should be determined (i.e. whether to uphold or overturn the appeal), taking into account the Planning Inspectorate’s recommendation
• Making decisions on national infrastructure planning applications

The Planning Inspectorate:

The Planning Inspectorate is an executive agency of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (3). They are responsible for dealing with planning appeals (that is, where planning application has been refused and the applicant is challenging this decision) and inspecting local plans to ensure they are in line with national planning policy and guidance.

Role of Local Public Health teams

Currently the Director of Public Health and local public health teams do not have a statutory role in the process. But they are usually involved in creating local planning policies and consulted when planners are deciding on planning applications. Many councils have established working between planning and public health teams, or protocols, and Planning for Health guidance to support these activities (4).