Farmers Weekly quotes Sadie Pitman on planning system reforms
min readChanges to England’s planning system from 31 October 2026 are intended to streamline decision-making by allowing planning officers to determine a greater proportion of planning applications, reducing the number that need to be considered by elected planning committees. The reforms form part of the National Scheme of Delegation of Planning Functions under the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and are designed to create faster and more consistent outcomes across local planning authorities.
For farmers and rural landowners, many smaller-scale planning proposals are expected to fall within categories that will be determined directly by planning officers. The reforms also seek to reduce delays associated with committee cycles and local referral thresholds, while ensuring committees focus on larger or more significant development proposals.
The article considers the practical implications of the new framework for the agricultural sector, including how applications may progress through the planning system and the potential impact on development timescales. While the changes are intended to improve efficiency, debate continues around the balance between streamlined decision-making and local democratic oversight.
Sadie Pitman, Associate in our Planning, Infrastructure & Environment team, comments in Farmers Weekly:
Where Schedule 2 applies, there may still be short-term delay where the nominated member and officer agree how the application is to be determined.
Read the full article in Farmers Weekly here.
