Developers in the Staffordshire Moorlands will be able to bypass council planners – after they blocked too many applications. The government has issued a designation notice to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) – effectively putting its planning department into special measures – due to its ‘under-performance’.Designation means that developers will be able to submit applications for major schemes directly to the planning inspector, instead of going through the council. Planning authorities are at risk of designation if more than 10 per cent of decisions on major applications are overturned at appeal.Over a two year period between 2023 and 2025, SMDC’s rate was 13.6 per cent – the fifth highest in the country. The government says that the notices of designation issued to SMDC and eight other councils will allow developers to ‘bypass local bottlenecks’ and help speed up housebuilding.SMDC’s designation came into force on Monday and will remain in place until it can show the government it can make ‘quality planning decisions’.A source close to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “A minority of councils have repeatedly failed to take the decisions needed to build the homes their communities are crying out for. Our message is clear: if you drag your feet to get on with the job, we will take away your right to make those decisions. Where councils aren’t delivering, ministers will – because getting Britain building faster is non-negotiable.”On a number of occasions, planning committee members at SMDC have refused controversial applications that were recommended for approval, only to see their decision overturned at appeal. Committee members refused an application for 48 homes off Oakamoor Road in Cheadle, against their officer’s recommendation, in October 2023.They said the development would have a detrimental impact on the setting of the Grade II* listed Hales Hall, and would also negatively impact a gateway into Cheadle. But the planning inspector overturned the decision, ruling that the adverse impacts would not significantly outweigh the benefits of the scheme, specifically the provision of market and affordable homes.And in March 2024, the planning committee refused an application for a 49.9MW solar farm at Lower Tean Leys Farm, near Lower Tean, despite officers recommending it for approval. Committee members said the scheme would have a negative impact on the landscape and residential amenity, and would be contrary to local planning policy. The cross-boundary application was also refused by East Staffordshire Borough Council.But a year later the planning inspector overturned both refusals, following an appeal by applicant Lightrock Power.A total of six major applications were allowed on appeal between April 2023 and March 2025. SMDC says its planning performance improved over this period, and has continued to improve since then.A spokesperson for the council said: “The council notes the Government’s decision and has been aware of performance against the number of appeals allowed for some time. We have already taken steps to improve that performance including working with the Planning Advisory Service and other specialist advisors.”This decision relates to major applications only. The council receives a small number of major applications each year so a small number of decisions allowed on appeal over a 12 month period can result in the council exceeding the 10 per cent threshold. Between April 2023 and March 2025, six major applications were allowed on appeal taking us just over the threshold.”Over that period, the council’s performance has markedly improved. Between April 2024 and March 2025 only two appeals were allowed and the decisions overturned at appeal was 5 per cent – well within the 10 per cent threshold. No major applications have been allowed on appeal between April 2025 and March 2026.”SMDC says it will work with the government and the Planning Advisory Service on a service improvement plan, with the aim of bringing designation to an end ‘as soon as possible’.
Staffordshire council planners in special measures due to ‘poor performance’
