Mayors in England to be handed ‘call in’ powers over key planning decisions in their areas

Details of the proposals are to be published this week.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said the national thresholds will be set outside of London for the first time: schemes with more than 150 homes, more than 15,000 square metres of commercial space, or any building over 30 metres or taller, roughly ten storeys will be in scope.

Mayors will also be able to grant up front permission for development, so that building can begin without a developer having to apply.

The MHCLG said the proposal has been backed by ten mayors from different parties.

It will bring mayors in England in line with powers the Mayor of London already has.

The Ministry added: “Every decision must follow the planning rules, the local plan, and national policy. Applicants keep the right of appeal, and ministers retain a backstop power to intervene themselves.”

The MHCLG said mayors will also secure a bigger say over how national housing funding is spent in their areas. Homes England will still lead on the biggest projects, but its funding and expertise will be focused on the priorities agreed by local mayors, it added.

Responding to the announcement, Cllr Richard Wright, Chair of the Local Councils Network, said: “Local planning authorities have an unrivalled knowledge of local communities which ensures new homes and crucial infrastructure are appropriate for their area and meet the genuine needs of local people. This expertise should not be dismissed lightly.

“Councils’ longstanding accountability for planning has empowered us to ensure development contributes to the creation of cohesive places which support growth, health and wellbeing, as well as being loved by local people.

“The weakening of this accountability has the potential to diminish local places and at the same time do little to increase the building of the high-quality homes that councils know their communities are crying out for.”

He added: “While we support the Government’s enthusiasm for devolution, we should be clear that devolution entails empowering people at a local level, rather than taking powers away from councils and giving them to more geographically distant bodies.”