The Strategic Planning Committee meeting was scheduled to receive an update on the work of the Planning and Building Control services for the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The committee was also scheduled to note the dates of future meetings.

Planning and Building Control 2025/26 Q4 Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update report on the work of the Planning and Building Control services covering the period from January to March 2026, and providing a summary for the full financial year 2025-26.

The report detailed performance overviews for Development Management and Enforcement. It indicated that 3,018 applications were received between April 2025 and March 2026, a slight increase from the previous year. The number of valid cases on hand at the end of March 2026 had decreased to 663 from 800 the previous year. The report also provided statistics on appeals decided, with 66% of appeals dismissed in 2025/26. Performance figures showed that 100% of 'Major' applications were determined within statutory deadlines, with 'Minor' and 'Other' applications also performing well above government thresholds. The report noted that the council was not expected to be designated as a poorly performing planning authority based on appeal overturn rates.

In terms of Development Management and Enforcement, there was a 35% increase in enforcement complaints received in 2025/26 compared to the previous year, with 1,395 complaints logged. The number of enforcement notices served decreased slightly. The report highlighted ongoing issues with high caseloads, particularly exacerbated by a significant increase in referrals from the Private Sector Housing team concerning Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). A dedicated queue for HMO cases had been created to manage this.

The report also covered Planning Advice Services, noting 333 pre-application meetings held between April 2025 and March 2026, generating approximately £370,869 in income. Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) had generated an increased income of £842k.

Under National Reforms, the report discussed proposed changes to Planning Committees, including requirements for training certificates, a national scheme of delegation, and prescribed committee sizes. It outlined the government's timeline for bringing these regulations into force, with a target date of 31 October 2026. The report detailed the proposed national scheme of delegation, which would see a presumption towards delegating decisions to officers, with referrals to committees only in exceptional circumstances meeting specific statutory criteria. The council was working to update its Constitution and Planning Protocol to align with these changes.

The report also addressed local fee setting for planning applications, noting that national fees do not cover the full cost of the service. Proposals were in place to allow councils to set their own fees based on cost recovery for development management functions, with a new national default fee schedule and a potential surcharge for statutory consultees. Haringey was preparing for local fee setting, expected to be implemented in the 2027/28 financial year.

A consultation on permitted development rights for schools, assets of community value, defence, and conservation was also mentioned.

In Spatial Planning, the report provided an update on the New Local Plan. Consultation on the Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan had concluded, with approximately 10,000 responses compiled and analysed. Key themes from the responses included support for the vision and placemaking framework, mixed views on the spatial strategy, strong support for affordable housing and climate resilience policies, and opposition to specific draft site allocations. The council was working towards submitting a Regulation 19 Proposed Submission Local Plan by the deadline of 31 December 2026. Funding of £36,585.36 had been secured to support the production of the Local Plan under the current system.

The report also detailed the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) Round 2 consultation, outlining £1.73m allocated to various projects across different areas of the borough. The decision to award these funds had been called in but subsequently allowed to be implemented. Over £2.2m of NCIL was available for Round 3. An Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) for 2024/25 had been published, summarising developer contributions. The Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) for 2025 was also in preparation.

Under national reforms, the report discussed Support for Housebuilding in London: Emergency measures, detailing government and GLA consultations and the council's response, which expressed concerns about the impact on affordable housing delivery and CIL income. The final package of support included measures such as a new time-limited planning route with a reduced affordable housing threshold, temporary CIL relief, and expanded Mayoral call-in powers. The report noted a legal challenge by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets against the GLA guidance, which Haringey supported. The report also covered reforms to Local Plan-Making, reiterating the government's commitment to new local plans and the deadline for submitting legacy system plans.

In Building Control, the report presented a performance overview indicating a decrease in applications and market share for the financial year 2025/2026, partly due to the liquidation of a major private Approved Inspector. This had resulted in a significant increase in applications reverting to Haringey Building Control, adding pressure to the team. The report highlighted difficulties in recruitment and retention of experienced staff due to competitive salaries and a shortage of Registered Building Inspectors (RBIs). The council was employing apprentices but noted the need for experienced staff to supervise them. The team was also working on high-rise schemes as a Building Control advisor for the Building Safety Regulator. The report detailed statistics on applications, fees, site visits, market share, dangerous structures, and demolition notices.

The report also addressed Safety at Sports Grounds, noting that the Building Control service oversaw events at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. However, the number of officers able to undertake these duties had significantly reduced, leading to challenges in fulfilling statutory duties.

Under National Reforms, the report discussed the Building Control Independent Panel's report, which recommended a move towards fewer, larger, publicly accountable Building Control Bodies (BCBs) and the removal of dutyholder choice of regulator in the long term. The report highlighted issues with local government pay structures hindering recruitment and retention of RBIs. The government's response indicated a commitment to further analysis of these recommendations. Funding of £70 million was announced to address shortages in building safety professions, with a portion allocated to local authorities to recruit and upskill RBIs.

Dates of Future Meetings

The committee was scheduled to note the dates of future meetings, with the next one listed for 2 November 2026.