Last Updated on 23 January 2026
In the planning process, some applications must, by law, be referred to organisations outside the local planning authority. These organisations are known as ‘Statutory Consultees’ for example, Gardens Trust, Natural England, Environment Agency, Historic England etc.
The government has been consulting on potential changes to the statutory consultee process. The consultation website says:
Statutory consultees play an important role in the planning application process by providing expert advice on significant environmental, transport, safety, and heritage issues.
However, local planning authorities and developers report that the statutory consultee system is not working effectively.
This consultation seeks views on reforming the role of statutory consultees in the planning system and covers the following proposals:
- removing statutory consultee status from certain bodies
- reviewing the scope of what statutory consultees advise on
- improving performance management across existing statutory consultee bodies in the planning system
The consultation is now closed to new responses, but the Society has responded. The full response is here
Our overall position is that important consultations within the planning application process should be retained and that consultees should be funded and supported to provide the considered and timely responses needed in the planning system. Heritage, environment, sports, theatre and the like are important amenities and statutory consultees are an important part of their preservation and management.
