National
Changes to Planning Decision-Making from October 2026
The Planning
and Infrastructure Act 2025 introduces national changes to how certain planning
applications will be determined under the National Scheme of Delegation.
From 31
October 2026, many lower-complexity applications, including householder and
minor development proposals (known as Schedule 1 applications), will be decided
by planning officers under delegated powers rather than by Planning Committees.
Committees will instead focus on larger, more complex, or more strategically
significant applications. The Local Authority is therefore updating its
constitution to reflect the new national requirements. Existing arrangements
such as councillor call-ins and automatic committee referrals based solely on
the number of objections will also be removed.
Further
information is available in the Government’s guidance on Planning Committees
and the National Scheme of Delegation: Planning Committees and the National Scheme of Delegation of
Planning Functions: Guidance for local planning authorities in England - GOV.UK
The Council operates
with two area-based planning committees, split on an east and west basis.
Western BCP
Planning Committee comprises the following Wards:
Alderney
& Bourne Valley
Bearwood
& Merley
Broadstone
Canford
Cliffs
Canford
Heath
Creekmoor
Hamworthy
Kinson
Newtown
& Heatherlands
Oakdale
Parkstone
Penn Hill
Poole Town
Redhill
& Northbourne
Talbot &
Branksome Woods
Westbourne
& West Cliff
Planning
applications falling within more than one Committee area shall be determined by
the Committee in whose area contains the greater proportion of land within the
red line application site boundary.
The
Committee has the following protocols:
Protocol
for Public Speaking / Statements at Planning Committee
Protocol
for Site Visits at Planning Committee
Protocol
for Planning Committee in relation to Pre Application Presentations