The Prime Minister's Office announced on 23 August 2026 that mayors across England were to be given "call in" powers over the most important planning decisions in their areas, under proposals due to be published the following week. A mayor would be able to take over key applications affecting local growth and direct a council to take a decision. Ten mayors from different parties backed the move, which was intended to match powers already held by the Mayor of London.

According to the announcement, the national thresholds outside London were to cover schemes with more than 150 homes, more than 15,000 square metres of commercial space, or any building over 30 metres tall, roughly ten storeys. Mayors were also to be able to grant up-front permission so building could start without a developer applying. Councils would keep deciding most applications, the report said, citing Salford, Leeds and Knowsley delivery figures from the previous three years.

Mayors outside London would also gain influence over national housing funding, with Homes England concentrating its funding and expertise on locally agreed priorities, and a levy on development to fund infrastructure. The release said £1.3bn of land and infrastructure funding had been allocated to the seven most established mayoral areas, with £234 million of brownfield funding to seven combined authorities and £1.5 billion committed through the Housing Accelerator Fund. Applicants would keep appeal rights and ministers a backstop power to intervene.