From 31 October Spelthorne councillors can no longer send home extensions or schemes under 10 homes to committee. Officers decide them; your right to comment stays.

Spelthorne councillors will lose the power to send most planning applications to a committee vote from Saturday 31 October.

New national regulations take effect across England that day. Home extensions and housing schemes of fewer than 10 homes must then be decided by council planning officers. Councillors will no longer be able to “call in” those cases for a public debate, Spelthorne Borough Council said in an announcement on 23 October.

Residents keep the right to comment on applications. Those comments must still be taken into account, whoever makes the decision.

The last committee under the old rules is on Wednesday

There are no transitional arrangements, according to the council’s planning changes FAQs. So the Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday 28 October is the last one held under the current system.

Its agenda shows exactly the kind of case that will disappear from committee. Three applications are listed, all recommended for approval:

  • two home extensions, one in Manor Farm Avenue, Shepperton, and one in Fontmell Park, Ashford
  • new estate boundary fencing and three pedestrian gates at International Way and Lincoln Way, Sunbury

From 31 October, householder applications like the first two cannot go to committee at all.

What changes and what does not

The council’s FAQs split applications into two lists, following the regulations.

Who decides from 31 October
Officers only (Schedule 1) Householder applications; minor housing (1 to 9 homes, or a site under 0.5 hectares); minor commercial schemes under 1,000 square metres or 1 hectare; certificates of lawfulness; prior approvals; discharging conditions; non-material amendments
Can go to committee (Schedule 2) Major schemes; retrospective applications; listed building consent; advertisement consent; tree preservation order consent; reserved matters on large outline permissions

The council says Schedule 1 “covers the majority of application types that we receive at Spelthorne”.

A Schedule 2 case only goes to committee if it passes one of two “gateway tests”. It must have a significant economic, social or environmental impact on the area, or raise significant issues about the Local Plan or other planning matters.

Councillors do not have the last word on that. The chair of the Planning Committee and the planning team leaders discuss each case. The FAQs say “the final decision rests with the nominated Officer”.

There is one widening. Any councillor will be able to ask for a Schedule 2 application to go to committee, not only the councillor for the ward where it is.

How much difference it makes

In practice, most decisions are already made by officers. The council says officers decided around 98% of all applications between January and October 2026.

The change matters most for the small, contested cases: a neighbour’s extension, or a pair of new houses on a single plot. Until now, a ward councillor could pull one of those out and put it in front of a public meeting. From 31 October, that route is closed.

Councillor Michele Gibson, chair of the Planning Committee, said in the announcement: “We recognise that some residents may have concerns about fewer applications being considered by Planning Committees, but they can be assured that their views will continue to play an important part in the planning process.”

The council also says it has no choice. Its FAQs warn that a decision taken by the wrong decision-maker “could be open to legal challenge”, and could lead to costs being awarded against it. The government has committed to review the regulations within three years.

What it means for you

  • Your comments still count. You can still view, comment on or object to an application, and the officer must weigh what you say. If the decision is appealed, the planning inspector sees your comments too.
  • Comment early and in writing. With no committee debate to fall back on, your written comment is likely to be the only say you get on a small scheme. Email planningdm@spelthorne.gov.uk or call 01784 451499.
  • Watch the weekly list. New applications appear on the council’s weekly list. Next-door neighbours are still sent a letter, and a site notice still goes up.
  • Talk to your councillor anyway. They can still raise concerns with officers, and can ask for a larger scheme to go to committee. Contact details are on the councillors register.

Our Staines planning page explains the Local Plan the officers will be applying.