The government is to give a minimum of £75,000 to every planning authority in the country in a bid to stem the critical underfunding of the planning system.
Planning minister Tony McNulty confirmed that in the future money from the £350m planning grant pot would only go to those authorities that have shown improvement.
McNulty said: “Nine authorities have consistently met all our development control targets. They have been generously rewarded.
“During the lifetime of the grant, we expect this number to increase considerably.”
Extra grants will given to areas of high housing demand, such as London boroughs and the South East.
Money will also go to regional planning bodies to develop new regional spatial strategies and the Greater London Authority will be given funds to assist its review of the London Plan. But County Councils will not receive any of the grant money.
Also, there will be no compulsion for authorities to spend the money on planning improvements.
Although subsequent grants will be linked to improvements, councils will be permitted to spend their money on more visible services such as street cleaning.
The total grant for each authority for the year ranges between £75,000 and £450,000, with an average of £100,000 per authority.
McNulty said: “All authorities receive at least £75,000 from the grant this year to pump prime improvement. But this will not be the case in further years.
“They should be aware they must keep improving in order to receive further money.”
Of the £350m devoted to the planning system over the next three years, £50m will be allocated in 2003/04, £130m in 2004/05 and £170m in 2005/06.
Grants for 2004/05 and 2005/06 will be entirely linked to improved planning performance as an incentive for authorities to reach, and even exceed, targets.
References: EGi News 12/02/2003
