Fast track planning impact could be 'minimal’

Fast track planning impact could be 'minimal'



DFT has been told that the government still needs to do more to speed up planning approval despite the move to fast track applications .


DFT has been told that the government still needs to do more to speed up planning approval despite the move to fast track applications.

Last week, the government said councils will now compete to process planning applications including a fast track application service.
Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, stated: “These proposals will be a boost for housebuilders looking to build much needed new homes for hard working families and first time buyers, and for local people looking to get a planning permission for home improvements through their local council quicker.” 
However, John Waddicker, Director at Positive Commercial Finance said: “Any such initiatives are welcomed, but the true impact will probably be minimal. 
“Time will tell.”
Meanwhile Scott Marshall, Director at Roma Finance, added: “This is a positive step, but we've talking about the need for new housing for a while now, so I just hope it's not too little too late.” 
Brandon Lewis, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, revealed that he wants to link any future increases in application fees to councils’ performance.
Rico Wojtulewicz, Policy Adviser for the House Builders Association, was sceptical about this proposal saying the costs of house building are considerable and increasing them further could be counterproductive. 
“A tiered system reliant on financial influence or risk may not be the best solution to speeding up planning and solving the housing crisis,” said Rico.
“Given that a planning application for a site of five homes may be in excess of £60,000, how much more will SME house builders be expected to pay? Will non-fast tracked planning applications receive less focus?”
James Bloom, Chief Executive of Regentsmead, which is involved in the government consultation process on planning, also believes costs are a major problem.
“When we met with the Government, we were told about a possible new planning permission pre-outline and we were asked whether that would be fundable,” said James. 
“The principal was excellent but in practice the planning would still be subject to the usual reserved matters and criteria, so we advised them it would need to be a far more certain process to be fundable.”
Adrian Swan, Managing Director at Swan Homes Estate Midlands Ltd, said the fast track system would change the dynamics of its business.
“Allowing SMEs like ourselves to upscale housing supply in support of the Government’s projected national targets, and assist in greater delivery, while having the ability to gain improved and quicker access to mainstream bank finance,” said Adrian.
“Paying enhanced and increased fees to local planning authorities in a bid to ensure its effective implementation, would be welcomed and supported knowing it would have a positive effect on the local and wider economy.”
Despite the changes, James said he would like to see more done to make it easier for developers to build much needed housing because planning was still “a minefield”. 
“The local council method which leads to a large amount of NIMBY-ism is always going to put constraints on planning,” said James.
“We suggested it needs to be removed from the local council and, in some way, privatised or dealt with by an independent body. 
“This will probably never happen but we could not see a way to speed up the planning using the current system. 
“The government did seem to be listening when we met with them and hopefully this announcement is a follow up from those meetings.”
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, concluded: “The system as it stands is creaking – this new approach must be made to work and it cannot come soon enough.”
“Local authorities need to be able to invest in their planning departments to put in place, and renew, their local plans. 
“Fees, whether fast track or standard, need to be weighted to ensure that overall the system will be adequately resourced.”


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