Planning and development red tape cut

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Planning and development firms that need more time to build new projects will not face as higher fees as previously.

By Ashley Brunskill

The government has revealed a number of reforms to save companies time and money when it comes to development and planning.

Up to £69 million a year will be saved by improving the flexibility of planning permission. Firms which need to extend planning permission to allow more time for new developments to be built will benefit from lower fees, John Healey, the planning minister, said.

Extra time has been required by some companies because of funding difficulties during the economic downturn.

Mr Healey explained: "At a time when funding for new developments is difficult, I have changed the planning rules to give developers longer to build new projects that will help drive economic recovery."

As well as planning and development businesses, homeowners will also be helped by the changes.

The fee for extending planning permission for household projects will be cut from £150 to £50.

Communities and Local Government also revealed that the New Deal for Communities programme has seen more than 19,800 homes built or improved between 2002-08.

Source: ask-re The Property People LLP