England mayors to gain new powers over major planning decisions

The UK government has announced a plan to grant elected mayors in 13 combined authority areas new powers to overrule local councils on major planning applications. This move aims to accelerate housebuilding to meet the Labour government’s target of constructing 1.5 million homes by the end of the decade.

Under the new rules, mayors will have the authority to “call in” strategic developments that meet specific criteria: projects involving more than 150 homes, commercial spaces exceeding 15,000 square metres, or buildings taller than 30 metres. These powers mirror those currently held by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

Targeted regions include Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, the West Midlands, the West of England, and several authorities across the North East, Yorkshire, and the East Midlands. To support this transition, the government also plans to second high-performing civil servants into mayoral offices to increase administrative capacity.

The proposal has met with mixed reactions. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook described the powers as an “essential part of the toolkit” for regional leaders. However, opposition parties and some local officials have criticized the move, arguing it could erode local democracy and centralize power away from community-focused councils.