18/06/2026
📢 Planning Reform, Housing Targets and What It Means for Our Community
Many residents have asked why more housing developments seem to be coming forward and whether local councillors will still have a meaningful say in planning decisions.
The reality is that major changes to the planning system are being introduced nationally, and these changes will affect councils across the country, including Runnymede and the future West Surrey authority.
🏡 What is changing?
The Government is placing greater emphasis on delivering new homes and has introduced revised housing targets and planning policies designed to speed up development.
Alongside this, planning reforms due to come into effect from October 2026 are expected to result in more planning applications being determined by professional planning officers under delegated powers, rather than being debated and voted on by elected councillors at Planning Committee.
For larger housing developments, there is also expected to be greater involvement from central government where councils seek to refuse applications that align with national planning policy and housing targets.
📍 What does this mean locally?
Many residents assume councillors can simply vote against developments they do not support. In reality, planning decisions must be made within national planning law and policy.
If an application complies with planning policy requirements, refusing it without sound planning grounds can result in appeals, with decisions ultimately being taken by Planning Inspectors rather than local councillors.
The proposed reforms mean that local councillors may have less influence over whether some developments proceed and more influence over ensuring developments are delivered responsibly.
To put this into context, under the proposed arrangements, a development of several hundred homes that might previously have been debated in public by elected councillors could instead be determined under delegated powers if it meets the national criteria. Many residents may feel this reduces local democratic oversight of major planning decisions.
This means our role is increasingly focused on:
✅ Ensuring developments are of high quality.
✅ Securing improvements to roads, schools, healthcare and community facilities.
✅ Protecting local character, green spaces and environmental assets wherever planning policy allows.
✅ Holding developers accountable for what they promise to deliver.
✅ Representing residents throughout the planning process.
🏗️ Looking ahead
The planned move to a new West Surrey unitary authority will also bring changes to how planning services are managed in the future. While the structure of local government may change, it remains vital that local communities continue to have a voice in shaping development in their area.
🗣️ Your voice still matters
Residents can still influence planning decisions through consultations, planning application comments, neighbourhood planning and engagement with local councillors.
However, it is important that residents understand that some of the powers traditionally exercised by local planning committees are being reduced as decision-making becomes increasingly guided by national policy and delegated authority.
As your ward councillor, I will continue to represent local concerns, challenge poor proposals, and push for the infrastructure and services our community needs alongside any new development.
Whether you support or oppose new housing, these changes are significant because they affect not only what gets built, but also who gets to make the decisions.
If you have any questions about these planning reforms or how they may affect our area, please feel free to contact me directly.
