What is Planning Committee?

Planning Committee is a public meeting which decides whether planning permission should be granted for a planning application.

Building Safety Levy: starts 1 October 2026

The Building Safety Levy (BSL) will come into effect on 1 October 2026. It is a tax on new dwellings and new bedspaces in purpose‑built student accommodation (PBSA).

Developers must pay the levy on certain building control applications or notices before completion or occupation of the building. The Council will collect the levy.

The Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025 sets out how the levy will operate.

Changes to how some planning applications are decided from 31 October 2026

The Government has introduced new national rules about who decides planning applications.

These rules are formally called the national scheme of delegation. From 31 October 2026, they will decide which applications must be decided by planning officers and which may go to Planning Committee.

The rules will apply to cases decided from that date. We have updated Lewisham’s Constitution to reflect the changes.[

The committee has 10 councillors, including a chair and vice-chair. Its membership reflects the political balance of the Council and is agreed at the Council’s annual meeting.

There are two planning committees: Strategic planning committee, and Planning Committee. Committee meetings take place in accordance with the Council calendar, and meetings are held in the Town Hall Civic Suite.

Strategic planning committee

Strategic planning committee meetings consider strategic applications, including applications referable to the Mayor of London, where the Council’s nominated senior officer and nominated councillor agree that the national test for referral to committee is met because they raise a significant local economic, social, environmental or planning issue. It may also consider any other Schedule 2 application where senior officers consider that it should be decided by the Strategic Planning Committee.

Planning committee

Planning committee meetings consider non-strategic Schedule 2 applications where they raise a significant local economic, social, environmental or planning issue.

When would an application be referred to planning committee?

Most applications, known as Schedule 1 applications, must be decided by officers.

Some applications, known as Schedule 2 applications, may be referred to committee only if the Council’s nominated senior officer and nominated councillor agree that they raise a significant local economic, social, environmental or planning issue.

The number of objections, a petition, a councillor request, an amenity society objection or a departure from planning policy will not automatically send an application to committee.

How are objectors and supporters informed about Planning Committee?

Anyone who comments on an application will receive an email confirming that we have received their comments. If the application is going to committee, everyone who commented will be invited to the meeting at least five days beforehand. The agenda is published one week before the meeting.

How are people who responded informed about the application decision and gateway outcome?

Everyone who comments on an application will be notified when the application is decided. The outcome of any formal gateway assessment, which determines whether the application is decided by officers or a planning committee, will be available on the Public Access page for that application. A summary of gateway assessments will also be reported regularly to Planning Committee.

How are decisions made at committee meetings?

A planning officer presents the application to the committee and the public. The applicant or agent may then speak for up to five minutes, followed by those objecting to the application, who may speak for up to five minutes in total.

If more than one person wishes to speak for either side, they must agree among themselves who will speak and how the five minutes will be shared. Committee members may ask questions of the planning officer, the applicant or agent, and those speaking in support or objection.

Councillors who are not members of the committee may speak in line with the Council’s meeting rules, but they cannot vote on the application.

Committee members then discuss the application and vote on the decision. They may approve it, refuse it or defer it to a later meeting if they need more information.