Government consults on accelerated planning service

The measures announced in yesterday’s Spring Budget 2024 and covered by the consultation are to:

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; and

4. implement section 73B for applications to vary planning permissions and the treatment of overlapping permissions.

The consultation, which can be viewed here, closes on 1 May 2024.