Rotherham councillors to lose vote on smaller planning applications
Smaller planning applications in Rotherham will be decided by council officers rather than debated and voted on by elected councillors under new national rules.
Developments of up to nine homes, household extensions and changes to planning conditions will no longer go before Rotherham’s Planning Board.
Most reserved-matters applications involving fewer than 500 homes will also be determined by officers. These applications settle details such as the appearance, layout and landscaping of developments which already have outline permission.
Rotherham councillors considered changes to the council’s constitution at a full council meeting on Wednesday, September 9.
The changes are required by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 and accompanying regulations.
Councillor Zachary Collingham described the new system as “arbitrary and regrettable”.
Retrospective applications, listed-building work and changes to Section 106 legal agreements could still reach the Planning Board.
However, both the council’s head of planning and the board’s chair would have to agree that a proposal raised an important economic, social, environmental or planning issue.
Applications submitted by councillors, council officers or the council itself will automatically go before the board.
The Planning Board will also be reduced from 15 councillors to 13.
Council officers said retaining the existing system was not an option and warned that decisions made outside the new legal framework could be challenged in court.
The new arrangements will take effect on October 31.