POS Response to consultation on Planning Powers for Mayors in England

20 October 2026

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Planning Officers Society’s response to the Government’s proposals for expanding mayoral planning powers in England. While broadly supportive of stronger strategic planning and greater mayoral involvement in delivering Spatial Development Strategies (SDS), POS argues that meaningful intervention powers should only come into effect once an SDS has been adopted. The response emphasises the need for locally tailored strategic significance thresholds, adequate planning resources and specialist skills, clear governance arrangements, and robust consultation processes. It also supports the introduction of Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy (MCIL) powers to fund a wider range of strategic infrastructure, alongside measures to protect critical assets such as minerals and freight facilities. Overall, POS welcomes the proposals as an important step towards more effective strategic planning and devolution, while stressing that successful implementation will depend on proper resourcing, clear accountability, and alignment with adopted strategic plans