Planning department’s designated status is lifted following major improvement
St Albans City and District Council’s planning department has had its designated status lifted by the Government after a dramatic improvement in performance.
The Council was designated in March last year because it was not processing enough planning applications for non-major developments within a set time.
Applications were being decided within the recommended period on 68.2% of occasions - slightly below the 70% threshold required to avoid a designation notice.
The Council responded with a review of the service, the production of an action plan and the introduction of new software.
As a result, the on-time application rate has soared to 84.9% and the designation status removed by the Housing and Planning Minister.
Councillor Jacqui Taylor, Vice-Chair of the Planning Policy and Climate Committee, said:
I am delighted that we have been de-designated.
It is the result of a great deal of hard work by our planning officers to improve our performance and we have surpassed the threshold by an impressive margin.
This significant and sustained improvement is the result of giving our planners the tools to do their job more efficiently and effectively.
We will now continue to provide a first-class service for our residents and businesses in the years to come.
Non-major developments include applications by householders, for change of use or minor applications.
The latter are applications for up to nine homes or on a site less than half a hectare. For commercial projects, it is for floor space less than 1,000 square metres or a site area less than one hectare.
Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer, 01727 819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.