Planning essentials training for Local Councils 2025
National, Local and Neighbourhood Planning Policy - 12 June 2025 (Recording available) Chat questions and links
Development Management and Getting Involved - 19 June 2025 Create a saved search in the Online Planning Register, Chat questions and links
Enforcement and Compliance, and Planning Appeals - 10 July 2025 (Enforcement recording available) Chat questions and links
Other Local Council Planning training
We also offer shorter training events based on one or two topics 3 or 4 times a year. These are online Teams events. They are for parish and town clerks and local councillors in Cornwall. You will not have to book a place but can use the Microsoft Teams meeting links to join. We publicise the events by:
emailing the joining links to local council clerks for sharing with their local council members
including how to join in the Council's local council newsletter.
No need to book, just use the link to join. Slides will be available on this webpage after the event. Please contact us at positiveplanning@cornwall.gov.uk if any questions.
2026 planning training
September 2026
Email invites and the joining links have been sent to clerks to cascade. You do not need to book, just use the Teams link in the email. Please contact positiveplanning@cornwall.gov.uk if any questions or if you need the joining link nearer the date.
23 September 2026 - Planning changes and policy update
We would like to invite all local council clerks and councillors to join us on 23 September, 4.00-5.30 pm for a briefing on planning changes and a policy update. This session will cover national planning changes brought in by the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 including:
Planning Committee reform and changes to delegation powers including new CC Member protocol, and new Local Council protocol
Policy update including Neighbourhood Priorities Statements and Local Plan progress.
We will also circulate more information and a quick survey via clerks by email over the summer break so we can report feedback on 23 September.
16 September 2026 - Housing viability update
We are inviting all clerks and local councillors of parishes within the Cornwall Local Plan Affordability (Value) Zones 4 and 5 to join us on 16 September, 4.15-5.15 pm. Matthew Brown and Nick Marsden will be sharing the outcome of Housing Viability work that affects these parishes. You will find out about the actions Cornwall Council is proposing.
10 June 2026
River Camel phosphates update including an overview of the Septic Tank Replacement Initiative, and the proposed Local Development Order
24 February 2026
You can find Cornwall Council's response to the Government National Planning Policy Framework consultation March 2026 on our Planning Changes webpage.
2025 planning training
30 September 2025
Policy update on Local Plan preparation and awaited planning changes
Neighbourhood Priorities Statements and pilot update
26 February 2025
Follow on Policy update on the Local Plan call for sites, the approach to the Interim Policy Position Statement and land use strategy
2024 planning training
November 2024
Policy update included:
September 2024
Development Management focused event resources include:
Previous training
The Cornwall Climate Emergency Development Plan Document policies have full weight in the planning process from March 2023. This presentation included how policies affect the decision-making process and neighbourhood planning.
The Environment Agency presented training for local councils. The focus was on their Roles and Responsibilities on 22 March. Content includes Local Flood Risk standing advice.
Some topics covered have had a more recent update. You can find those in the videos prepared from Planning Member Modular Training in the next section.
More Training resources for local councils
We are building a training resource area for local councils. Some are videos and based on presentations given as part of our Member Modular training programme. You can find the latest resources using these links:
Day in the life of a planning application
The Cornwall Planning Partnership produced this document. It is an online step by step guide through the entire planning process. It spans from initial development idea through to the completion of development.
You can access this resource using this link: Day in the life of a Planning Application.