A proposed policy would grant devolved mayors new planning powers to accelerate large developments by allowing them to call in decisions, direct councils, or grant upfront permission for schemes exceeding thresholds set at 150 homes, 15,000 square meters of commercial space, or buildings around 30 meters (about 10 storeys) tall.

A government consultation on the proposal is slated for publication next week.

The changes would apply to devolved mayors outside London and aim to align with the London Mayor’s emergency powers introduced earlier this year.

Context centers on devolution politics, housing targets, and the tension between speeding up development and maintaining local input and planning controls.

The Liberal Democrats condemned the plan as a direct attack on local communities, arguing it would silence residents and diminish local democratic oversight, while urging resources be provided to councils to deliver genuinely affordable homes alongside infrastructure.

They argued the move would silence residents, undermine local accountability, divert decision-making from communities and councillors, and would not effectively solve the housing crisis.

The Lib Dems say empowering central decision-making risks weakening local democracy and failing to address housing needs.

The policy is pitched as a way to unblock stalled sites and speed up housing delivery in the capital and across regions, reducing delays and expanding development capacity.

Ministers frame the policy within a broader aim to deliver 1.5 million homes in England within five years, with a backstop power retained for intervention if necessary.

Officials note progress toward the 1.5 million target and describe the proposal as a tool to accelerate housing delivery, including affordable housing, while acknowledging concerns about local empowerment.

Supporters, including Burnham, say devolved powers can harmonize planning and improve collaboration, but they acknowledge the risk of disempowering some local bodies and emphasize a two-way decision-making dynamic.

Key figures cited include City Mayor Andy Burnham and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, highlighted as part of a broader devolution of planning powers across several English mayors.