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Planning delays stifle growth

Firms fighting the recession are being handicapped by bureaucratic delays in the planning process, according to business leaders.

While the downturn has resulted in fewer business planning applications, local authorities in the region have reacted to their reduced workload by slowing down the number they process within the Government’s target of a 13-week timeframe to reach a decision.

Research by the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) has revealed that, despite a fall in the number of planning applications, local authorities in the region are actually dealing with fewer applications in a timely manner.

NECC figures show that, while the number of planning decisions made by councils halved from around 6,500 in early 2007 to about 3,200 in the first months of last year, the proportion being dealt with and completed within 13 weeks fell from 80% to less than 75%.

NECC has written to North East local authorities, urging them to act now in the spirit of the review and to put greater emphasis on working with businesses to allow development to the benefit of the North East economy.

Martyn Pellew, NECC president, said: “There are local authorities out there that recognise the importance of processing planning applications in a timely fashion but the evidence NECC has highlighted illustrates that the will in Westminster to move major projects on is not always echoed on the ground which is wholly unacceptable.

“Clearly there need to be planning controls but, all too often, the present system acts against the public interest by stifling economic development. We are therefore calling on Central Government to implement the recommendations of its own review as soon as possible and, meanwhile, we need local government to do everything in its power to ease the process and help businesses struggling with recession.

“We would also like a guaranteed level of service at pre-application discussions, a minimising of requirements for submitting applications and a maximising of flexibility in dealing with minor changes to plans.

“The private sector is fighting hard to beat the recession but it needs the support of the public sector, not foot-dragging.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .