English planning authorities are determining major applications significantly faster than a year ago, according to new research by the the British Property Federation (BPF) and others.
According to studies undertaken by property consultant GL Hearn, in partnership with the British Property Federation (BPF), the average time taken from validation to determination for major applications fell from 35 weeks during 2011/12 to 24 weeks in 2012/13.
However, the research also showed that the number of major applications handled by local planning authorities (LPAs) dropped by 22 per cent over the period surveyed: from 1075 in 2011/12 to 775 over the last financial year.
Those figures came from the results of the consultancy’s annual planning survey and research into major applications in London and Manchester, both of which are in their second year.
The major applications’ research analyses the efficiency of all London boroughs in processing major* planning applications in terms of process times and approval rates, as well as determining the number of major applications submitted per borough. This year for the first time, the research has also analysed the processing of major applications in Greater Manchester.
Major applications were defined as 10 or more dwellings, residential sites over 0.5 hectares, non-residential sites over one hectare or creation/change of use of over 1,000 square metres gross.
Shaun Andrews, head of investor and developer planning at GL Hearn, said there were a number of possible reasons for the improvement in determination times. “It may be that there are fewer applications in the system, therefore LPAs are able to allocate resources more efficiently.
“Or it could be due to greater emphasis being placed upon the pre-application period, so although applications are being processed more quickly, overall the length of time for the application process remains the same.
“Alternatively, it could be that the Government’s reforms are having a positive effect and as such LPAs are making considerable efforts to determine applications more quickly.”
Liz Peace, chief executive of the BPF, said: “We’re pleased to see a reduction in the time taken by local authorities to determine a planning application.”
“Time will tell as the economic conditions improve, and more major proposals come to the table, whether this is a sustained improvement or as a result of the fall in applications from the previous year.”
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