An Accelerated Planning System

The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is currently consulting on ‘An accelerated planning system’ which includes four core themes:

1.  introduce a new Accelerated Planning Service for major commercial applications with a decision time in 10 weeks and fee refunds if this is not met
2.  change the use of extensions of time, including ending their use for householder applications and only allowing one extension of time for other developments, which links to a proposed new performance measure for local planning authority speed of decision-making against statutory time limits
3.  expand the current simplified written representations appeals process for householder and minor commercial appeals to more appeals
4.  implement section 73B for applications to vary planning permissions and the treatment of overlapping permissions

PAS’s role in the profession is to provide high-quality help, advice, support and training on planning and service delivery to councils. We help local government officers and councillors stay effective and up to date. We have a ‘sector-led' improvement approach, where local authorities help each other to continuously improve.

PAS recently held a webinar to provide information on the consultation so that councils could be better informed in making their formal representations to DLUHC. You can watch the webinar recording below.