Govt to give mayors power to overrule planning committees

Midlands Mayors, Claire Ward and Richard Parker, will get the final say on large developments under plans from the Prime Minister, and former Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham.

While local councils will continue to be the primary planning decision-makers, combined authority mayors will be able to intervene if they believe a decision made locally is to the detriment of growth, under the new proposals.

Examples of how this could pan out can be found in London, where mayor Sadiq Khan, who already has call-in capabilities, has stepped in to overturn refusals of several high-profile schemes.

These include a 505-home project from Muse and the Canal and River Trust in Tottenham in 2017 and, more recently, TfL’s plans for around 300 flats at High Barnet Station.

Projects with more than 150 homes, more than 15,000 sq m of commercial space, or any building over 30 metres or taller would fall within the scope of the mayors’ new powers.

The move has already been criticised by the Conservatives, Greens, and Lib Dems who see it as a watering down of local democracy.

The proposals are due to be published in full this week.

Under the beefed-up powers, mayors outside London will also be able to charge a levy on development to fund major infrastructure such as railway lines.

The move is part of wider plans to transfer decision-making powers to regional administrations, and comes after Burnham promised regional mayors a share of income tax revenue from 2028 under what he described as the “biggest transfer of power from Westminster in a generation”.

“Soon, every local leader will have the power and resources to improve public transport, build homes and create jobs,” he said last month.

“I know what it’s like to be ignored by politicians in Westminster. I’m not going to make that same mistake now I’m PM.

“The whole of government will now pull together behind the people and places that desperately need our support. This is how we’ll bring back hope and bring power home to you.”