The Prime Minister intends to set out proposals next week to give directly elected mayors new powers to take control of major local planning decisions and to grant upfront permission for large developments, government sources and briefings indicate.
What the proposals would do
Under the plans, mayors would be able to “call in” decisions on schemes that meet specified size thresholds and either direct councils to approve or refuse them or grant permission themselves so developers can start work without submitting a separate application.
- Triggers for mayoral call-in would include developments of more than 150 homes, commercial floorspace in excess of 15,000 sq m or any building over 30 metres (about 10 storeys).
- Ministers would retain a backstop power to intervene where national interest or policy requires it.
- Mayors would gain a greater role in deciding how national housing funding from Homes England is used in their areas and could charge a levy on developments to fund large infrastructure.
Ten of the 14 devolved mayors across party lines have already backed the move, according to briefings accompanying the announcement, which is framed as bringing mayoral powers in line with those already given to the Mayor of London earlier this year.
Rationale and political context
The measure is pitched as a tool to unblock stalled major sites and accelerate housing delivery. The Prime Minister’s office notes that central government is just over a quarter of the way towards its five‑year target to build 1.5 million homes in England — a shortfall the proposals aim to address.
In interviews, the Prime Minister acknowledged concerns that enhancing mayoral authority could sideline local councillors, MPs and residents. He argued that the power would be used to challenge poor local decisions as well as to counter obstructionism. He said:
“Sometimes … challenge does need to be made to local decision‑making, and actually it cuts both ways. It’s not all about nimbyism. Sometimes it’s the other way round. It’s a local authority putting forward something that’s unacceptable in terms of the impact on the community … so it’s a two‑way street.”
The government will publish a consultation next week setting out the detailed proposals and the legal framework for the call‑in powers.
Constraints and safeguards
Officials stress that any decisions by mayors must comply with existing planning rules, local plans for the areas and national policy. The consultation is expected to set out how those tests will be applied in practice and how the new powers will interact with existing statutory processes.
Ministers have emphasised the retention of a ministerial backstop to ensure issues of national importance can still be addressed at central government level. The proposals also include measures to increase mayoral influence over allocations of Homes England funding and to permit mayors to levy contributions from developers to support major infrastructure.
Potential consequences
The change would mark a significant extension of mayoral powers outside London and could reconfigure the relationship between combined authorities, district and unitary councils, and local MPs. Proponents argue it will speed the delivery of large schemes and enable strategic oversight of housing and infrastructure. Critics are likely to raise concerns about local accountability and the bypassing of established planning committees.
| Threshold | Trigger |
|---|---|
| 150 homes | Mayoral call‑in/grant upfront permission |
| 15,000 sq m commercial | Mayoral call‑in/grant upfront permission |
| 30 metres height | Mayoral call‑in/grant upfront permission |
The consultation will be watched closely by local authorities, developers and housing campaigners. How the policy is framed in the consultation and the detail of the safeguards will shape the debate over whether the move is a pragmatic step to unblock delivery or a controversial re‑centralisation of planning control at the level of combined authorities.
