01/06/2026
Right now, we're analysing all the evidence from the early spring Regulation 18 consultation. You'll hear more about the Local Plan in late June and early July. In the meantime, we wanted to tell you about an important national change.
Planning has just changed
From 12 May 2026, a significant change to the national planning rules came into effect. It will affect how councils all over the country make decisions, including Rochford, and understanding it will help you to get involved in the process.
What's new?
Previously, when the Development Committee refused a major planning application, that was largely the end of the matter unless the developer appealed.
Now, under new Government rules, any development of 150 or more homes that is refused by the council can be 'called in' by the Secretary of State. This means the decision is taken out of the council's hands entirely and made by central government.
This was already possible in exceptional cases. It will now apply automatically to any refusal of a development of this size.
What does 'called in' mean?
When an application is called in, it goes to the Secretary of State rather than being decided locally.
Typically, this means it's examined by a planning inspector appointed by - you guessed it - the Planning Inspectorate. The final decision is made at a national level.
The council, local councillors and residents can still feed into that process, but the decision is no longer ours to make.
Why has this happened?
The Government has set ambitious national housebuilding targets and has made clear it intends to use its powers to help meet them. This change is part of a broader shift in how much control local councils have over significant planning decisions.
What hasn't changed?
The Local Plan remains important. An application on land that isn't allocated for development in our Local Plan still faces a very significant hurdle, even under the new rules.
Having a Local Plan is a community's most powerful tool for shaping what gets built and where. Planning officers (staff) continue to assess applications thoroughly and impartially, and make recommendations based on planning law and policy.
Councillors on the committee continue to make decisions on a wide range of applications.
What might change next?
The Government consulted earlier this year on further reforms which, if they go ahead, would mean that many of the simpler, more straightforward planning applications would be decided by officers rather than referred to the Development Committee at all.
This would speed up the process and reduce the burden on committees. It also means councillors would have less involvement in day-to-day planning decisions. More would be decided by the strict application of law and policy, rather than political judgement.
We'll keep you factually updated on how these proposals develop.
The bottom line
Planning in Rochford is changing because of decisions made in Westminster that apply to every council in England.
We'll always try to explain clearly what we can and can't influence, and why decisions are made the way they are.
What we ask in return is that those conversations stay constructive for everyone involved. Rochford District Council has zero tolerance for abuse, threats or personal insults directed at either officers or Members in any form, including through social media.
We want to help local people understand the system better so you can get involved. Follow us on social media if you don't already or, for more information about planning, head to
For everything regarding planning permissions and building control.
