19 Oct PLANNING CHANGES: Update – October 26
Planning in Transition: What Major Changes Could Mean for Bromley
Planning is often seen as a local issue, with decisions made by councillors at committee meetings and guided by local policies. However, a series of national, regional and local reforms currently underway could significantly change how planning decisions are made in Bromley over the coming years.
Changes to Planning Committees
One of the most significant changes is the Government’s reform of planning committee decision-making through the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, due to take effect on 31 October 2026. These reforms introduce a national system for determining which planning applications should be decided by officers and which can be considered by elected councillors. Under the new arrangements, planning applications will be divided into two categories.
Schedule 1 applications must be determined by planning officers and cannot be referred to a planning committee, regardless of the number of objections received or whether a councillor requests that the application be considered by members. These are generally smaller or more routine applications such as householder extensions, minor residential developments, minor commercial proposals and certain technical applications. The intention is to allow straightforward applications to be dealt with more efficiently.
Schedule 2 applications will include larger or more complex developments. These may still be considered by a planning committee, but only where they meet a statutory gateway test demonstrating that they raise significant planning issues. Examples could include major housing developments, large mixed-use schemes or proposals with significant economic, environmental or social implications.
For Bromley, this means that some of the existing routes by which applications reach committee, including referrals based on the number of objections or requests from councillors, are expected to change. Planning committees will increasingly focus on proposals considered to be of strategic or wider significance.
A New National Planning Policy Framework
At the same time, the Government has published a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which came into effect in August 2026. The NPPF is the key national planning document for England and influences both planning decisions and the preparation of local planning policies.
The revised framework places greater emphasis on increasing housing delivery, supporting economic growth, streamlining decision-making and making effective use of previously developed, or “brownfield”, land. It also includes changes relating to housing land supply, Green Belt policy, viability assessments and planning decision-making.
While national policy does not automatically determine whether individual developments are approved or refused, it does influence the weight that local authorities give to different planning considerations. As a result, the revised NPPF is likely to shape future planning policies and development decisions in Bromley.
The Draft London Plan
Alongside national reforms, the Greater London Authority (GLA) is consulting on a new Draft London Plan, which will guide how London develops over the next 20 to 25 years. The consultation runs until 15 October 2026, with the final Plan expected to be adopted in 2028 following independent examination.
The draft London Plan sets planning priorities for all London boroughs, including housing, transport, economic growth and environmental protection. For Bromley, the implications could be significant, potentially influencing future housing targets, development opportunities, infrastructure requirements and environmental policies. However, as the Plan remains at consultation stage, its policies and targets may change before adoption. Bromley Council’s Planning Policy Team is currently preparing a response to the consultation to ensure the borough’s interests are represented as the Plan progresses
Bromley’s New Local Plan
Closer to home, Bromley is itself preparing a new Local Plan. The borough’s current Local Plan was adopted in 2019 and remains the primary document used to determine planning applications. However, councils are expected to keep their plans up to date, and Bromley has already begun the process of preparing a replacement.
Preparing a Local Plan is a lengthy process. It involves gathering evidence, consulting residents and stakeholders, identifying potential development sites, drafting policies and ultimately submitting the Plan for independent examination by a Planning Inspector. Bromley consulted on a “Direction of Travel” document in 2025 and continues to develop the next stage of the process.
Importantly, the new Local Plan will need to take account of both the revised NPPF and the eventual London Plan. In practice, this means that national, regional and local planning policies are all evolving simultaneously. The decisions made over the next few years could influence where new homes are built, how town centres develop, where employment land is protected and how the borough responds to future growth pressures.
Green Belt, Grey Belt and Bromley’s Future
Perhaps no planning issue has generated more debate in Bromley than the future of the borough’s Green Belt.
Green Belt land is designated to prevent urban sprawl, protect the countryside and maintain the separation of towns and settlements. Much of Bromley is covered by Green Belt, and the Council has historically sought to protect it from inappropriate development.
Recent Government policy changes have introduced the concept of Grey Belt. In simple terms, Grey Belt refers to Green Belt land that may make a more limited contribution to the purposes of the Green Belt and which, in certain circumstances, could be considered for development. However, being identified as Grey Belt does not automatically mean development will occur. Any proposal would still need to be assessed against planning policy and would typically be expected to deliver public benefits such as affordable housing, infrastructure improvements and accessible green space.
To inform future decision-making, the GLA has undertaken a London-wide Green Belt Review as part of the evidence base for the draft London Plan. The review is expected to influence future discussions about Green Belt and Grey Belt land across London, including in Bromley.
The issue remains highly controversial. Supporters argue that carefully selected sites could help address housing shortages and provide new infrastructure. Opponents fear that development could erode the borough’s open character and place additional pressure on local services and transport networks.
What is clear is that no final decisions have yet been made. The draft London Plan, Green Belt Review and Bromley’s Local Plan are all still evolving. Residents will therefore have further opportunities to engage with the process as the future planning framework for Bromley takes shape over the coming years
Patty Ploch – SRA Development Officer