Two routes
We decide planning applications through two routes:
- delegated powers
- planning committee – meeting dates and minutes
Most planning applications, more than 90%, are decided by delegated powers.
National scheme of Delegation
From 31 October 2026, new national regulations change how planning applications are decided by local authorities across England. The National Scheme of Delegation, sets out which planning applications must be decided by planning officers and which, if certain criteria are met, may be considered by a Planning Committee,
These changes are national legislation and apply to all local planning authorities in England.
The Regulations do not allow councils to operate local arrangements that can refer applications to Planning Committee.
Public comments and representations
Public comments and representations will continue to be considered as part of the assessment of every planning application. The changes do not affect the right of residents and interested parties to submit comments on planning applications.
National Scheme of Delegation arrangements
Some categories of application defined in the Regulations as Schedule 1 applications, including householder and many minor development proposals, must be decided by planning officers and cannot be referred to Planning Committee.
Larger, more complex or strategic applications defined in the Regulations as Schedule 2 applications may still be referred to Planning Committee, where they meet criteria set out in the regulations.
A Schedule 2 application can be referred to Planning Committee only where it meets one of the following ‘Gateway Test’ criteria:
- the application raises an economic, social or environmental issue of significance to the local area, or
- the application raises a significant planning matter having regard to the development plan and any other material considerations.
Gateway Test
Schedule 2 applications may be referred to Planning Committee where the Nominated Officer and Nominated Member consider that the application meets the ‘Gateway Test’ criteria.
The Nominated Officer is the Head of Development Management, with the Chief Planning Officer acting as deputy.
The Nominated Member is the Chair of Planning Committee, with the Vice Chair acting as deputy.
We will publish a list on Thursday of applications to considered by the Nominated Officer and Nominated Member at the Gateway Test The outcome of each Gateway Test will be published on Tuesday.
Most planning applications in Camden will continue to be determined by planning officers, as is already the case. All applications, whether determined by officers or by Planning Committee, will continue to be assessed against the same planning policies and material planning considerations.
Planning committee
Schedule 2 applications that meet the criteria of the gateway test, are made by members of our Planning Committee. That is, approximately less than 10 per cent of all applications.
The planning officer writes a report recommending whether planning permission should be granted or refused. The report is then considered at a public meeting of the Planning Committee. These meetings are held every four weeks.
If your planning application needs to be considered by the Planning Committee, we tell you when the meeting will be.
I want to speak at a planning committee meeting
Minutes, agenda and reports
upcoming and previous Planning Committee meetings
Agendas and planning officers' reports are available five working days before the committee meeting is held.
Draft minutes are published within five full working days of the meeting and are approved at the following meeting.
Live webcasts of planning committee meetings
live webcasts of Planning Committee meetings (or archived webcasts of previous meetings)
Camden's Constitution
sets how we operate, how decisions are made and the procedures which are followed (includes the planning and licensing protocol).