Mayoral Planning Call-In Powers: What Developers and Landowners Need to Know

The provisional thresholds

A scheme meeting any of the following inside an eligible mayoral strategic authority area would be capable of being treated as of potential strategic importance. Exactly 150 homes or exactly 15,000 m² would not meet the first two tests.

• Threshold register currently unavailable.

Four different powers, often confused

Where these powers could apply

Eligibility follows membership of a mayoral combined authority or mayoral combined county authority (and the Greater London Authority, which already exercises strategic planning powers). An area does not become eligible merely because a council has a directly elected mayor.

Legal basis and verification

Common questions

Are the mayoral call-in thresholds law yet?

No. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 contains the enabling provisions, but the announced thresholds of more than 150 homes, more than 15,000 square metres of commercial floorspace, or a maximum height of 30 metres or more are provisional. They take effect only when consultation is completed, commencement regulations are made and the final threshold order is in force. Until then Logical Planning reports every result as prospective.

What is the difference between a call-in and a direction to refuse?

A call-in transfers the decision on an application of potential strategic importance to the mayor, who then determines it and can approve or refuse it. A direction under section 74 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 does not transfer the decision: it restricts the local planning authority from granting permission, including a direction that the application be refused.

What is a Mayoral Development Order?

Under sections 61DA to 61DE of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 a mayor may make a development order granting planning permission for specified development in a specified area, subject to conditions. It is a proactive permissioning tool for strategic sites, not a decision on an individual application.

Could a mayoral CIL apply to my scheme?

Sections 206, 213 and 214 of the Planning Act 2008 allow a charging authority to adopt and examine a community infrastructure levy charging schedule. Where a mayoral strategic authority becomes a charging authority, a mayoral levy would sit alongside any local levy and section 106 obligations. No mayoral charging schedule outside London is recorded in our register at present.

Does crossing a threshold mean permission is more likely?

No. Crossing a threshold only means the application could be of potential strategic importance and therefore capable of being called in. The mayor could approve it, refuse it or direct refusal. We report mayoral-intervention likelihood separately from the prospects of planning permission for exactly that reason.