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We are all – architects, developers, builders and the authorities themselves – attempting to tackle a short fall in delivery and to meet the Government’s demands.

With staff shortages in local authorities, brought about by the cuts in budgets, and the slow responses that naturally follow, schemes are taking six months and longer.

Why can there not be a set of criteria for schemes under 20 units which fast tracks this over critical government process?

Why insist on a pre-application when the council does a u-turn when faced with the full submission?

We could have a series of online checks and an almost ‘do it yourself’ approach to the smaller schemes.

Yes, this is very different to the current system but how is the demand for housing to be met if there are no changes?

We know the demand is there. We know local authorities want to play their part in providing homes.

It is time to get our heads together to meet the demand in the most time and cost effective ways possible and to look for alternative ways of delivering planning permissions.

Vicky Saunders, Managing Director

Published in 24 Housing, 17th August 2017.