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Sign in or register for an accountAn application can either be approved, typically with conditions, or refused with a justified planning reason.
From 31 October 2026, a series of changes came into effect nationally which relate to how planning and related applications are determined. These changes were introduced via legislation as part of the National Scheme of Delegation.
In introducing the National Scheme of Delegation, the government’s aim is to ensure that there is greater clarity and consistency about the role of planning committees in planning decision making. The intention is that committees should focus on the key proposals that matter to an area, enabling other, often more minor and technical, decisions to be made by planning officers under delegated authority. Further background in relation to the National Scheme of Delegation is available here.
The legislation underpinning the National Scheme of Delegation applies to all planning and related applications which are determined from 31 October 2026 onwards. At its meeting on 16 September 2026, Salford’s Full Council resolved to make amendments to the Council Constitution to reflect the requirements of the National Scheme of Delegation. These amendments to the Council Constitution also came into effect on 31 October 2026 to align with the legislation.
The changes relate to the level of decision making for various types of applications, and whether these are determined by officers under delegated authority, or whether they are determined by elected members via the Planning and Transportation Regulatory Panel (‘Panel’).
Previously, the Council Constitution required applications to be determined by Panel where thresholds relating to the scale of development or the number of objections were met. Examples included development comprising 100 dwellings or more, or non-residential development with a gross external floorspace of more than 4,500sqm. The National Scheme of Delegation has removed these triggers.
From 31 October 2026, applications must be categorised as follows:
Own-Interest: these are applications where either i) the council is the applicant or has an interest in some/ all of the land to which the application relates, or ii) the application is made by an officer or member of Salford City Council. These applications can be referred to Panel for determination in the interests of openness and transparency of decision making.
Schedule 1: these applications are required to be determined by officers under delegated authority in all circumstances.
Schedule 2: these applications may be referred to Panel for determination, but the presumption is that many will be determined by officers under delegated authority.
The Nominated Member (the Chair of the Planning and Transportation Regulatory Panel, or their designated substitute) and the Nominated Officer (the Head of Development Management, or their designated substitute) will meet regularly to review Own-Interest and Schedule 2 applications. These meetings determine whether applications are referred to Panel or determined by officers under delegated authority.
Following consideration by the Nominated Member and Nominated Officer, a record of the decision and the reasons for it will be published to the application case file on the Public Register and reported to Panel for noting.
Ward members have the opportunity to request that any Schedule 2 application within their ward is considered in one of these meetings by the Nominated Member and Nominated Officer for potential referral to Panel. Call-in requests can only be made for Schedule 2 applications, and must be made within the required timeframe. A call-in request does not guarantee referral to Panel.
The Public Register details which categorisation applies to each application. Additional guidance on which type of applications fall within each categorisation is available here.
For those applications which are to be determined under delegated authority, the case officer will prepare a report which will be reviewed by a senior officer who will make a decision to approve or refuse the application, and impose any conditions deemed appropriate. The decision notice will then normally be dispatched to the applicant (or agent) on the same day or the following day.
Where the Nominated Member and Nominated Officer agree that an application should be referred to the Planning and Transportation Regulatory Panel it will proceed to a subsequent meeting for determination. Anyone who has submitted comments on an application will be notified in advance of the meeting and have the opportunity to attend and address the Panel. Additional information on the Planning and Transportation Regulatory Panel is available here.
Comments can be made on live planning applications and decisions can be viewed online using Public Register.
Decision notices, together with other planning documents, can be obtained by submitting a request to us via our contact us form. We will then check that the documentation is available and you will be contacted within five working days to make payment as detailed below:
copy of decision notice (Planning) £16 each
copy of approval notice (Building regulations) £35 each
copy of completion certificate (Building regulations) £35 plus VAT each
copy of appeal decision notice (Planning) £16 each
Section 106 agreement (Legal document) free
copy of Tree Preservation Order £20 each
Extract from Ordnance Survey (in respect of planning and building regulations submissions only):
one copy £22.50 plus VAT
two copies £23 plus VAT
three copies £23.50 plus VAT
four copies £24 plus VAT
five copies £24.50 plus VAT
six copies (max) £25 plus VAT
Site history search £30 per hour.
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This page was last updated on 2 November 2026