The Development Management Committee - Castle Point Borough Council

The Development Management Committee (DMC) carries out a regulatory function on behalf of the Council when making planning decisions. The Committee operates within legislation, national planning policy, the Council’s Constitution and adopted procedures to ensure that planning applications are considered fairly, transparently and efficiently.

The Council’s Constitution and the Development Management Committee Handbook 2026 set out the role, responsibilities and procedures of the Committee. The Handbook provides guidance for Councillors, Officers, applicants, residents and anyone wishing to understand or participate in the planning process.

How planning applications are determined

Most planning applications are determined by Planning Officers under powers delegated by the Council through the National Scheme of Delegation and the Council’s Constitution. This enables the Development Management Committee to focus on applications that raise the most significant planning issues.

Applications are categorised into two schedules:

Schedule 1	Schedule 2
Delegated to Officers	Delegated to Officers	May be Referred through the Gateway Test
Householder development Minor commercial development Minor residential development S73 Variation of Condition applications that relate to a Schedule 1 application Reserved Matters approval for fewer than 500 dwellings or less than 50,000m² floorspace Discharge of Conditions Prior approval Permission in principle Non-Material Amendments (NMA) S106A applications that relate to a Schedule 1 application BNG plans Certificate of appropriate alternative development Certificates of Lawfulness Existing (CLE) Certificates of Lawfulness Proposed (CLP) Certificates of Lawfulness for proposed works to Listed Buildings	S73 Variation of Condition applications that relate to a Schedule 1 application S73A Variation of Condition applications S106A applications that relate to a Schedule 2 application Listed Building Consent including S73/S73A Variation of Condition and Discharge of Conditions Advertisement Consent Applications for Tree Preservation Order Consent (TPO)	Applications which are not householder, minor commercial or minor residential Reserved Matters approval for 500+ dwellings or 50,000m²+ floorspace
	Own Interest Applications
	Where the Applicant or Agent is or is related to a Member of Castle Point Borough Council Staff outside the Council’s Planning Department (Development Management or Planning Policy) or Leadership Team Where the application is for Advertisement Consent, S73/S73A Variation of Condition and Discharge of Conditions where the Applicant is Castle Point Borough Council or the application is on land that the Council owns/leases	Where the Applicant is Castle Point Borough Council or the application is on land that the Council owns/leases Where the Applicant or Agent is or is related to an employee within the Council’s Planning Department (Development Management or Planning Policy). Where the Applicant or Agent is or is related to a member of the Council’s Leadership Team where an adverse representation or comment has been received

Eligible planning applications may be referred to the Development Management Committee through the Council's call-in procedure.

A call-in request must:

Be submitted before the end of the first public consultation period
Be made by an eligible Councillor
Demonstrate that the application raises:
- a significant economic, social or environmental issue affecting the local area; and/or
- a significant planning matter having regard to the Development Plan and other material planning considerations

All valid call-in requests are assessed through a Gateway Test undertaken by a Nominated Councillor and Nominated Officer. Applications will only be referred to the Development Management Committee where the statutory referral criteria are met.

Public participation

Members of the public can participate in Development Management Committee meetings by speaking in support of or objection to planning applications being considered by the Committee.

The public speaking arrangements allow:

One objector to speak for up to five minutes
One supporter (including the applicant or their agent) to speak for up to five minutes
The local Ward Councillor to speak for up to five minutes

Anyone wishing to speak must register with Democratic Services the day before the meeting takes place. Full details of the public speaking arrangements are set out in the Council's Constitution and Development Management Committee Handbook.

Attending and watching meetings

Development Management Committee agendas, reports and minutes are available on the Council's website.

Members of the public are welcome to attend meetings in person, subject to available seating capacity.

Meetings are also livestreamed and available to watch via the Council's YouTube channel.