POS Guidance

POS undertakes and commissions research into topics of importance to members.

Recent research and guidance is published below, with older documents available via our Archive pages.

 

GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE NOTE - NATIONAL SCHEME OF DELEGATION

The new National Scheme of Delegation (NSD) will come into force on 31 October 2026. LPAs will need to review and update their constitutions to ensure they reflect the NSD. POS has developed a Good Practice Guidance Note (GPGN) containing advice and a series of templates covering each of the main requirements of the new NSD.

The GPGN and templates are for use by POS members to streamline their constitutional review process and support POS members with a comprehensive and efficient update of their documentation and procedures to meet the NSD requirements.

The GPGN and templates (these download as Word docs to enable editing) are available here:

POS GPGN - National Scheme of Delegation

Appendix A - Planning Scheme of Delegation

Appendix B: Vexatious Customer Procedures

Appendix C - Planning Committee Procedures

Appendix D - Planning Code of Conduct

Appendix E - Planning Committee Report Template

Appendix F - Planning Committee Update Report Template

 

GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE NOTE - STRATEGIC APPLICATIONS

The POS Good Practice Guidance Note: Strategic Applications sets out how local planning authorities can shift from a traditional Development Team Service to a more proactive Design Team Service, ensuring that good design is embedded from the very start of major development proposals. The guide explains that Government now expects the planning system to “achieve well designed spaces” and treat the creation of high‑quality places as “fundamental to what the planning and development process should achieve” . It highlights national initiatives such as the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission and the National Design Guide, all reinforcing the need for stronger design leadership in planning.

The guidance provides a structured five‑stage pre‑application model—Initiation, Urban Design, Community Engagement, Application Preparation and Closedown—aligned with the RIBA Plan of Work to maximise early influence on design outcomes. It emphasises collaborative working between planners, developers, councillors, communities and specialist consultees, supported by tools such as Planning Statements, Project Plans and Planning Performance Agreements. The overall aim is a front‑loaded, design‑led process that delivers better places, reduces risk, and ensures that strategic applications arrive as well‑considered, high‑quality proposals ready for determination.

Good Practice - Strategic Applications

 

BEST PRACTICE - LOCAL DEVELOPMENT ORDERS

POS commissioned Adams Hendry to produce a best practice publication around the practical implementation of Local Development Orders.

Local Development Orders