Are you ready for planning surprises in 2026?

If you've met ONH, you may know that several of our team are ex-senior Clerks who fell in love with planning. We know first hand that September to December are busy times for Clerks and Councils - it's the time when budgeting for the next April onwards collides with seasonal events, fundraising and green space commitments. This year, we're asking Clerks and Councillors to take a moment to consider whether next year will be business as usual for planning or whether it's likely to need a little more resource budgeted than usual.

What's different about planning in the 2026 - 2027 year?

Many councils haven't traditionally budgeted for planning beyond staffing costs - grants were available for Neighbourhood Planning and large planning applications or new Local Plans were infrequent enough that Clerks and Councillors were able and willing to handle much of the work themselves and dip into reserves for consultant fees if needed.

The 2024 - 2025 year has brought with it numerous national and local changes to planning, either already in place or announced and likely to begin soon:

• Loss of Neighbourhood Plan Support Programme

• Changes to written reps at Appeals

• Speeded up Local Plan processes

• Change in the Housing Requirement Figures for Local Planning Authorities

• Green Belt/Grey Belt

We are also expecting more changes before the end of this year, including:

• A new NPPF

• National Development Management Policies (now non-statutory)

• Changes to require all sites over 150 homes that LPAs intend to refuse to be sent to the Secretary of State to review

• 'default yes' to approval for sites near well-connected train stations

• The latest govenment consultation which asks "Are there other statutory consultees for which we should consider removal?"

These factors mean that many towns and parishes are facing: greater pressure for development, Local Plans with big changes planned, and need high quality evidence to use for applications and appeals.

These are all things that ONH can help you with. But, let's start with the budget:

What do you need to think about when budgeting for planning?

1. What is the situation of your Local Planning Authority?

Do they have a Five Year Housing Land Supply? Is there Housing Delivery Test figure more than 75%? If the answer to either of these is no, then Presumption in Favour of development is likely to be engaged.

That means any planning applications in your area are likely to be approved unless there are really strong planning reasons not to, and they outweigh the presumption. (For example, if paragraph 14 of the NPPF applies to your Neighbourhood Plan)

• If you weren't in this situation before but you are now, you might notice planning applications that were refused by your planning authority now being granted permission at appeal

• Find the 'annual position statement' on your local Five Year Housing Land Supply on your Local Planning Authority website.

• Check the annual Housing Delivery Test outcomes via the government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/housing-delivery-test

2. What is likely to happen in your area?

Not every parish will be facing planning pressure. If you are, begin by identifying the likely scenarios you will be facing over the 12 months from April 2026 - April 2027

• A Local Plan consultation stage?

• A major planning application coming forward?

• A National Strategic Infrastructure Project?

3. What are the resources of your council and community?

• How do you approach planning responses now? Is it working well or do you need more help?

• Could your existing officers, councillors and community do more to help?

• What would you need the support of a qualified planner or other consultant to do?

• Are you able to access funding through CIL, the precept or other sources for your project?

4. What planning projects would your council like to achieve?

You might already have decided how you would like to tackle your planning issues next year. You might be approaching these new challenges with:

• A Neighbourhood Plan

• Settlement Spatial Plan

• Design Code

• Grey Belt Assessments

• Planning Reps on a Local Plan

• Responding to planning applications and appeals

5. What next?

ONH are already booking work starting in 2026. If you would like to talk about costs for planning projects beginning next year, we are happy to speak with you in advance. Please contact us.