Hyndburn Council has been forced to adopt a sweeping and controversial overhaul of the planning system, effectively stripping elected councillors of their power to decide on the vast majority of local planning applications.
The change comes following a nationwide update to the Town and Country Planning Regulations passed by Parliament in July. The new scheme of delegation dictates that planning officers, rather than elected representatives, will now hold the primary authority to approve or reject applications based on national policy and the local plan.
The move is part of a central government initiative to accelerate housebuilding and shift the planning system toward a more standardised, “rules-based” framework. While major projects—such as the Huncoat Garden Village—and applications that deviate from local policy will still reach the planning committee, the day-to-day influence of local councillors will be significantly diminished.
During a full council meeting on Thursday, the change prompted a fierce backlash from across the political spectrum. Councillors were presented with the uncomfortable reality that they had to choose between codifying the changes into the council’s constitution by October 31 or acting in breach of the law.
Council leader Cllr Munsif Dad expressed his deep dissatisfaction, revealing he had formally objected to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government earlier this year. “I am not happy with this decision,” he told the chamber. “I wanted to air them with the appropriate people, and I have done that, but as the advice states, this is something that we have to vote for.”
Conservative group leader Cllr Zak Khan led the criticism, branding the move an attack on local democracy. “It diminishes democracy; it diminishes the impact of our influence on the planning committee and this council,” Cllr Khan stated. “People vote for us to create a place for where they live, where they work, where they want to set up their business.”
Legal officers warned the chamber that defying the regulation was not an option. Executive director of legal and democratic services Jane Ellis cautioned that refusing to adopt the changes would render the council’s actions unlawful, casting doubt on the legality of all future planning decisions.
Despite the warnings, the debate remained heated. Reform UK’s Cllr Gaynor Hargreaves described the policy as “despicable” and “disgusting,” arguing that residents’ voices were being silenced. Others, such as Cllr David Heap, warned he would face intense backlash from his constituents for stripping away their rights.
Ultimately, the council voted to adopt the changes into its constitution, with 16 votes in favour, six against, and four abstentions. As a symbolic protest, members agreed to collectively sign a letter to the government formally registering their continued opposition to the rule change.
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