Government Launches Planning Overhaul

A government review of the planning system designed to speed up the time it takes to process applications has been launched.Jointly led by David Pretty, former Barratt chief executive, and Joanna Killian, Essex County Council chief executive, the review will focus not on the structure of the planning system, but on improving the way it functions.

The review, entitled “Planning Applications: a faster and more responsive system,” follows a review in 2006 of the planning system by economist Kate Barker, and a review of housing delivery by John Callcutt, former Crest Nicholson chief executive, and comes as legislation to reform the planning system is before parliament.

Communities secretary Hazel Blears, business secretary John Hutton and housing minister Caroline Flint said the assessment would seek to weed out bureaucratic hurdles and create a more efficient planning service for the public and business.

At present some 75 per cent of local authorities meet their planning targets, up from 25 per cent in 2001, but it is hoped the proposed changes will make the planning system more user friendly.

“People often say they find the process of getting planning permission confusing and bureaucratic,” explained Caroline Flint.“By modernising the system and using new technology we can save everyone time and money and deliver the kind of effective and responsive planning service people deserve.”

The review will examine some of the following areas:

• Unnecessary duplication of paperwork in the application process.
• Delays occurring even after permission has been granted because pre-build conditions like construction schedules and legal steps are not being resolved quickly.
• Councils making better use of technology like the internet to notify people about planning applications, in addition to more traditional ways of telling the public such as in libraries and on notice boards.

New investment to empower local people to use the planning system to shape their communities was also announced by the government. Planning Aid funding is being doubled to £3.2 million for 2008, allowing more people to benefit from free independent advice to help them comment on proposals, make representations at inquiries, or submit a good planning application.

Blears commented that“The planning system is how we shape our future and we want to make it greener, more efficient and more empowering for local communities...Good progress is being made but we want to create a more user friendly system.”