South Midlands Region November Update

Our South Midlands Region is based at our Northampton office and covers Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire. The team is headed by Guy Orton and Clare Tevlin. See further details and contacts on our South Midlands Region page.

October was relatively quiet politically across the South Midlands, with limited major changes at council level. The main development was preparation for the new national scheme of delegation for planning decisions, which came into effect on 31 October. Councils have been reviewing their committee arrangements and constitutions ahead of the changes, which will see more applications determined by officers and a more limited role for planning committees.

Buckinghamshire

Central & North Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee met on 14 October and considered and deferred the major outline planning application for up to 15 dwellings on Land Between Cobb Hall Road and Drayton Road, Newton Longville. The reasons were for the members to conduct a site visit and see  the highways and access first hand.

East & South Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee met on 13 October, with no major planning applications discussed.

West Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee met on 21 and 28 October, with no major planning applications discussed.

There were no defections, new vacancies or by-election dates announced in Buckinghamshire during the month.

Northamptonshire

North Northamptonshire Planning Committee met on 14 October but did not discuss any major planning applications.

West Northamptonshire Strategic Planning Committee meeting on 15 October was cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for 17 November.

There were no defections, new vacancies or by-election dates announced in both North and West Northamptonshire during the month.

Rugby Borough Council

Rugby Planning Committee met on did not meet in October with the next meeting scheduled for 4 November.

There were no defections, new vacancies or by-election dates announced in Rugby during October.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council

In Nuneaton, the Planning Applications Committee met on 20 October but did not discuss any major planning applications.

There were no defections or local by-elections announced during the month.

Cambridgeshire

Cambridge City Council

Cambridge City Council’s Joint Development Management Committee met on 21 October but did not discuss any major planning applications.

Cllr Elliot Tong, who was elected for the Green Party in Abbey ward, has left the party to sit as an Independent councillor.

East Cambridgeshire District Council

East Cambridgeshire District Council’s Planning Committee met on 7 October and discussed and approved the major outline planning application for up to 72,656m2 of industrial floorspace at Land South East Of Wellington Road, Lancaster Way Business Park Ely. The meeting scheduled for 21 October was cancelled.

There were no defections or local by-elections announced during the month.

South Cambridgeshire District Council

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Planning Committee met on 14 October to discuss and refuse, in line with the officer’s recommendation to refuse, the major outline planning application for 138 homes at land south of St. Neots Road, Hardwick.

There were no defections or local by-elections announced during the month.

Huntingdonshire District Council

In Huntingdonshire, the Development Management Committee met on 26 October and did not discuss any major planning applications.

It is reported that Cllr Ryan Coogan, who is the Reform UK group leader and councillor for Ramsey ward, was arrested over allegations of false statements on election nomination papers.

Peterborough City Council

Peterborough City Council’s Planning and Environmental Protection met on 20 October. They did not discuss any major planning applications but noted the Cabinet approving the Peterborough Local Plan Proposed Submission going out for public consultation, with the consultation running for 6 weeks until 12 November 2026.

Cllr Peter Reeve, who was elected for Reform UK in Stanground South ward, has been suspended from the party and is sitting as an Independent councillor.

Oxfordshire

Cherwell District Council

Cherwell District Council’s Planning Committee met on 15 October and did not discuss any major planning applications.

There were also no defections, vacancies or by-election updates announced during October.

South Oxfordshire District Council

South Oxfordshire District Council’s Planning Committee met on 26 October, with no major planning applications approved.

There were also no defections, vacancies or by-election updates announced during October.

West Oxfordshire District Council

West Oxfordshire District Council’s Development Management Sub-committee meeting on 19 October was cancelled.

Cllr Phil Godfrey, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Carterton North West ward, has joined the Conservative Party.

Vale of White Horse District Council

Vale of White Horse District Council’s Planning Committee met on 14 October but did not discuss any major planning applications. The Committee met again on 28 October  and did not discuss any major applications.

No councillor or election updates.

Bedfordshire

Bedford Borough Council

Bedford Borough Council’s Planning Committee met on 12 October to discuss but did not discuss any major planning applications. They met again on 21 October to discuss a number of applications with the one major outline planning application for up to 330 homes with all matters reserved other than access at land off Hookhams Lane, Renhold, Bedfordshire. The application was approved.

There were no election updates announced in Bedford during October.

Central Bedfordshire Council

The Development Management Committee met 21 October and did not discuss any major planning applications. However, the Committee refused to update their constitutions to account for the National Scheme of Delegation. If they do not accept the changes the Council will not be able to lawfully make planning decisions and any decision made outside these requirements is unlawful and may be subject to judicial review and could be quashed by the court.

There were no election updates announced in Central Bedfordshire during October.

Luton Council

Luton Council’s Development Management Committee met on 21 October and discussed the major planning application or 63 homes at Co-operative Sports Ground, Stockingstone Road, Luton. The application was deferred for a site visit.

Two councillors elected for the Labour Party but who left the party in July to form the Independent Alliance, have now joined the Green Party although they remain in the Independent Alliance Group. They are Cllr Yarun Begum (Lewsey ward) and Cllr Rumy Chowdhury (Beech Hill ward).