Committee vs Delegated Analysis

Understand which applications go to planning committee and which are decided under delegated powers. Real data patterns that help you prepare for the right determination route.

Stage 3 Decision Intelligence — powered by 36+ authorities

Approval rate is calculated on the 22,963 determined applications (granted or refused). The remaining 3,173 are withdrawn, advice-only, or have no recorded grant/refusal outcome — so 19,340 + 3,623 + 3,173 = 26,136.

National Context: Committee vs Delegated

Detailed committee/delegated route data is not yet available for this authority. Nationally, the typical pattern is:

~95% of applications are decided under delegated powers by planning officers
~5% go to planning committee — typically major developments, controversial schemes, or councillor call-ins
Committee approval rates are generally lower than delegated (typically 70-80% vs 90%+)
Committee decisions take longer — often 10-13 weeks vs 8 weeks for delegated

Decision Outcomes by Application Type

Application Type	Total	Approved	Refused	Other	Approval Rate
Householder planning permission	4,813	4,046	604	163	87%
Full planning permission	4,042	2,709	865	468	75.8%
Approval of details reserved by a condition (discharge)	3,958	3,391	269	298	92.7%
Lawful development: Proposed use	2,615	2,067	369	179	84.9%
All Other	2,223	1,520	183	520	89.3%
Tree works: Trees in conservation areas/subject to TPOs	1,939	1,030	136	773	88.3%
Prior Approval: Larger Home Extension	947	454	215	278	67.9%
Non-Material Amendment	795	680	76	39	89.9%
Full planning & display of advertisements	642	285	330	27	46.3%
Consent to display an advertisement	600	495	79	26	86.2%
Removal/Variation of a condition	574	448	81	45	84.7%
Full planning & listed building consent	549	443	68	38	86.7%
Listed building consent	492	449	29	14	93.9%
Lawful development: Existing use	425	300	81	44	78.7%
Householder planning & demolition in a conservation area	229	184	37	8	83.3%
Householder planning & listed building consent	202	178	16	8	91.8%
Householder	163	123	32	8	79.4%
Full planning & demolition in a conservation area	111	81	21	9	79.4%
Prior Approval: Change of use from Commercial, Business and Service (Use Class E) to Dwellinghouses	98	62	22	14	73.8%
Prior Approval	67	23	14	30	62.2%

Understanding Committee vs Delegated

What is Delegated Decision?

Under the Scheme of Delegation, planning officers are authorised to determine most applications without going to committee. This is the faster route — typically 8 weeks for minor/householder applications. Around 95% of applications nationally are decided this way.

What Triggers Committee?

Major applications (varies by LPA threshold)
Ward member call-in request
High volume of public objections
Departure from the development plan
Officer recommendation of refusal on major schemes
Council's own development (conflict of interest)

How to Prepare for Committee

Request to speak at committee (5 min usually allowed)
Prepare visual aids — site photos, CGIs, drawings
Brief supportive ward members in advance
Address all objection themes explicitly
Focus on material planning considerations
Keep presentations concise and policy-grounded

Committee vs Delegated: Impact on Outcome

Committee decisions are statistically more likely to refuse than delegated decisions. However, a committee recommendation for approval can carry greater weight in any subsequent appeal, as it demonstrates elected member support for the proposal.