Referrals to planning applications committee

Under the law and council’s constitution, planning applications are decided either by planning officers or by the Planning Applications Committee (PAC), depending on the type of application.

PAC will decide on most types of application if:

• they have been submitted by the council, a councillor or certain officers 
• the council, a councillor or certain officers have an interest in the application 

Other types of applications

Applications that are not automatically decided by PAC are assessed against a gateway test set out in law.

The gateway test helps decide whether an application should be referred to PAC.

To meet the gateway test, an application must raise:

• one or more issues of economic, social or environmental significance to the local area; or
• one or more significant planning matters, having regard to the development plan and any other material considerations

PAC referral guidance

The council has produced guidance on referrals to the Planning Applications Committee, endorsed by PAC. This includes more information on who will decide different types of application.

The guidance explains how the gateway test is applied in Reading and lists the types of application that are considered under the gateway test.

Guidance on referrals to Planning Applications Committee

You can view a record of decisions on whether applications have been referred to PAC. This record is regularly updated.