Daily Telegraph - More on Planning Bribes

Before moving onto the second point I have just remembered that there is something about the previous subject that I forgot to mention.

There are a number of reasons why large planning applications get delayed:

1. Because it is larger there are bound to be more issues to be considered and thus more time needed to process it.
2. A good application will include additional information relating to subjects that will be of concern to the planners, such as; layout, design, landscaping, environment, roads, drainage, affordable housing, open space, etc.
3. Legal agreements to cover contributions and affordable housing.
4. Objections that need to be considered and included in the final report.

There will be other reasons but this serves to give you a flavour of the issues.

There is however one further reason that is not immediately apparent – Government Policy on Local Government efficiency.

This Government sets targets for everything and gives extra money for those that achieve the targets.

Quite reasonable you might think. However like many of their target initiatives the blunt instrument has effects not considered when it was introduced.

Like the target for your local GP where they need to see you within 48 hours of your ringing to make an appointment. The unforeseen result is that most GPs won’t make appointments for a day and time that is convenient for both of you. Oh no, you have to come in on the next available slot or ring again on the day of your choice and take a chance.

Planning departments have a target to resolve all applications within 8 weeks from them being registered. Given that you have a 3 week consultation period that does not leave long for the planning officer to consider the responses and write a report.

Large applications are almost certain to need to go the Committee for a decision and so you have to consider the Committee cycle and the need to have a report ready 1 week before the meeting date.

However it is easy to resolve all the small applications for extensions, alterations, tree work and minor changes of use. So since you get a large (we are talking several £100,000s) additional grant for dealing with over 90 – 95% of applications in the 8 weeks you are going to push large or complicated applications to the bottom of the pile.

Developers know and understand this so when the Local Authority comes along to offer to deal with the application quickly for £20,000 they are likely to be receptive to the idea.

As promised last time; in the next post I will consider the next indication of ‘potential catastrophe’ where developers write design briefs for new estates.


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