Industry opinion of the planning system is the worst it has ever been, with 65% of planning officers and 36% of developers concerned it is getting worse.
According to the British Property Federation and GL Hearn, some 80% of applicants were dissatisfied with the time it takes for decisions to be made, the highest level since the survey began in 2012.
Despite councils’ lack of resources, the UK planning system has broadly stabilised. Average decision-making times remained stable at 31 weeks, overall approval ratings for major applications held steady at 87%, and there was only a slight dip in the overall volume of major applications decided.
The North of England outperformed London, with 22% more major applications decided per capita than in London.
The data shows that many in the industry are hopeful that proposed policy changes could reduce application decision times and help alleviate resourcing issues in local planning authorities.
A total of 56% of applicants and 44% of local planning authority officers believe that “planning performance reviews” would improve decision-making times and reduce resourcing pressures. However, other policies proved more decisive.
Some 66% of applicants and only 19% of LPA officers believe “permission in principle” would shorten decision-making times and reduce resourcing pressures at councils.
Simon Gallagher, planning director at the Department for Communities and Local Government, said the new administration’s priorities were clarifying and releasing detail on changes to permission in principle and the brownfield register brought forward in the Housing and Planning Act.
He said the team was keen to engage with the industry to ensure all concerns were addressed in the housing white paper due to be released this autumn.
It is unlikely that the planning system will receive a significant investment boost. Alastair Crowdy, managing director of Capita Real Estate and GL Hearn, said in light of limited funding, the public and private sectors needed to come up with “innovative solutions” to solve the problem.
Responding to the survey, London deputy mayor for planning Jules Pipe said the Greater London Authority was looking at setting up a shared talent pool of planners to support boroughs.
Five policies developers believe could improve the planning process
- Permission in principle – 66%
- Section 106 dispute resolution – 57%
- Planning performance review – 56%
- Brownfield register – 51%
- Changes to planning application fees – 31%
Source: GL Hearn
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