Part 6: Planning in England Powers for piloting alternative provision of processing services Section 161: Processing of planning applications by alternative providers
Section 161 allows the Secretary of State to introduce, by regulations, pilot schemes to test the benefits of introducing competition in the processing of applications for planning permission and other applications connected to the development of the site.
	At the moment applicants for planning permission are required to submit their application to the local planning authority for the area where the proposed development is to take place. In the pilot schemes, which will take place in specified areas, applicants would be able to choose to submit their application for processing to either the local planning authority or one of a number of alternative designated persons.
	Subsection (7) makes clear that responsibility for determining a planning application will remain with the local planning authority. Where an applicant chooses to submit an application to an alternative designated person in a pilot scheme, then it will be solely for them to process the application and make a recommendation to the local planning authority on how, in their professional opinion, the application might be determined. Subsection (8) provides that the recommendation of the designated person will not be binding on the local authority that makes the final decision.
	Subsection (3) makes clear that any pilot schemes introduced by the Secretary of State will be for a time limited period, not longer than five years from the regulations coming into force. Within one year of the pilots coming to an end, the Secretary of State must conduct a review of the pilots and present it to both Houses of Parliament by written report, or make an oral statement to the House of which the Secretary of State is a member, as set out in subsection (4).
	Before making regulations that introduce pilot schemes, the Secretary of State must consult local authorities and other interested parties. Sections 162 to 164 set out what may be included in those regulations.