Councils will compete to process planning applications and be able to offer fast track application services under new proposals being explored by the <\/u>Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG)<\/u>.<\/u>\u00a0<\/u><\/p>\n
DCLG writes:
\n<\/u>Councils will compete to process planning applications and be able to offer fast track application services, like those available for getting a passport, in a shake up of the planning process under proposals out to consultation today (18 February 2016).<\/p>\n
Ministers want the pilots to tackle the lack of incentive for councils to improve and speed up their planning service leading to \u2018drawn out applications and local frustration\u2019 for both housebuilders and individual applicants.<\/p>\n
The proposals are expected to boost housebuilding and speed up the planning application process.\u00a0 The proposals will increase local choice by giving applicants the choice of whether to submit their plans to the local council, a competing council or a government approved organisation that would process applications up until the decision point.\u00a0 Councils will also be able to offer the fast track planning application service \u2013 either through competition pilots or potentially through devolution deals.\u00a0 Decision making on planning applications would remain with the local council to ensure decisions are taken locally and maintain the democratic link between local people and decision makers.<\/p>\n
Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: Council planning departments play a vital role in getting local housebuilding off the ground, but for too long they have had no incentive to get things done quickly or better, resulting in drawn out applications and local frustration.\u00a0 These proposals will be a boost for housebuilders looking to build much needed new homes for hard working families and first time buyers, and for local people looking to get a planning permission for home improvements through their local council quicker.<\/p>\n
Planning Minister Brandon Lewis said:\u00a0 Many councils are already working hard to improve the services they offer their residents, and across the country people\u2019s satisfaction levels remain high.\u00a0 Now we want to go further by setting out these ambitious proposals to link any future increases in application fees to councils\u2019 performance, and testing more competition including through offering dedicated fast track application services.<\/p>\n
Historically councils have had a \u2018closed market\u2019 in handling planning applications, with limited incentive for innovation and efficiency.\u00a0 However research studies over the last 3 decades in the UK and abroad suggest there are cost savings of up to a fifth for competitively tendered or shared services.<\/p>\n
A consultation on the competition pilots and fast track services is published today.\u00a0 It also includes proposals to make any future increases in councils\u2019 fees for processing planning applications dependent on their performance in terms of speed and quality of decisions.<\/p>\n
Further details on how the pilots will run will be published after the consultation has closed.<\/p>\n
Other measures in the consultation, which is related to the Housing and Planning Bill, cover:<\/p>\n
A separate consultation also published today seeks views on more housebuilding in London through allowing taller buildings, subject to conditions.<\/p>\n
View the press release<\/a><\/p>\n View the consultation<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Councils will compete to process planning applications and be able to offer fast track application services under new proposals being explored by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).\u00a0 DCLG writes: Councils will compete to process planning applications and … Continue reading