The Government have announced plans to make the planning system more efficient and more effective. These have been proposed via a white paper that seeks to address a number of matters in the existing system, aiming to improve the planning processes and a number of associated matters.
These include plans to:
introduce a new impact approach to householder development which will reduce the number of minor applications for planning authorities whilst protecting the interests of neighbours, the wider community and the environment;
– Â extend the impact approach to permitted development to other types of development such as industrial or commercial buildings as appropriate, subject to limitations and conditions;
-Â Â Â Â Â undertake a review and simplification of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 which is the main legislation setting out the process for submitting and considering planning applications;
-Â Â allow minor amendments to be made to a planning permission without the need for a full planning application;
-Â legislate to introduce a single set of rules governing all tree preservation orders;
-Â Â Â Â Â streamline information requirements for all applications, through the introduction of a standard application form and associated guidance and subsequently a further review of information requirements;
-Â introduce a package of measures designed to reduce the number of applications determined by ministers; and
-Â introduce a range of measures to improve the speed and efficiency of the appeals process. These include:
–            implementing fast tracked processes for householder and tree preservation order appeals;
–            establishing Local Member Review Bodies to determine minor appeals at the local level;
–            enabling the Planning Inspectorate, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, to determine the appeal method by applying ministerially approved and published indicative criteria;
–            improving customer focus and efficiency through a package of measures to refine the rules and regulations and increase the quality of appeals;
–            updating the provisions for awards of costs;
–            reducing the time limit for planning appeals when the same development is the subject of an enforcement notice;
–            measures to place enforcement appeals and lawful development certificate appeals on the same footing as that for planning appeals; and
–      introducing an appeal fee.
To view the detailed proposals announced by the Government in December, click here.
22 December 2010