English Mayors Gain Power to Overrule Councils on 150-Home Planning Schemes

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 23

13 mayoral areas across England will be able to call in large planning applications, taking over decisions on projects with more than 150 homes, 15,000 square metres of commercial space or buildings above 30 metres.
The Labour government says the shift is needed to speed housebuilding and regeneration as it tries to meet its pledge to deliver 1.5 million homes in England by the end of the decade.
Ministers also plan to let mayors grant some up-front permissions and give them a bigger role in directing housing funding, with a consultation on the new system due next week.
Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Reform UK said the move weakens local councils and residents, while ministers insist councils will still decide most applications and all rulings must follow planning rules.
The change extends powers already held by London mayor Sadiq Khan, even as housebuilding in the capital has fallen and the national target remains under pressure from industry warnings.