62 local authorities will receive a share of £6m of Government funding by the end of March 2026.
Funding timeline
In December 2025, the Government announced plans to issue at least £8 million in development management funding for the 25/26 financial year, in order to help local planning authorities with high growth potential and high volumes of major residential schemes at the post-outline stage.
Eligible local authorities were then invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form by the end of January to request a share of this funding. £6m was then agreed to be awarded across the 62 eligible authorities.
The eligible authorities in the Thames Valley area were Reading, Buckinghamshire, South Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes, each receiving £92,340.78.
Alongside the local authorities funding, £3m was allocated for the Greater London Authority (GLA), in order to help London boroughs with development management, and implement the measures outlined in the October emergency package issued to them.
Comments
David Bainbridge, a director in Savills central planning team, based in Oxford, said: “At the end of last year, the Government announced that it will issue at least £8m in development management funding this financial year to help local planning authorities with high economic growth potential and high volumes of major residential schemes at the post-outline stage.
“Today, the list of successful local authorities has been published, including Reading, Milton Keynes and South Oxfordshire, which will each receive an additional £92,340 to help with determination planning applications for development.
“For these authorities, this is welcome funding that can be used to help bolster officers who work on the front-line of planning applications for housing and employment development.”
For the full list of authorities read here
