Government welcomes review into planning and consents system

Wed 07 Jul 2010

Proposals on how the planning and consents system in the UK can be simplified have been welcomed by the government.

The Penfold Review was set up to outline what factors are stopping businesses from investing in development and to come up with possible solutions.

It has suggested removing some individual consents and rationalising other groups of related consents in order to make the non-planning consents environment less complicated.

The review also proposed options such as ensuring that developers are given access to the very latest and most accurate information.

Business minister Mark Prisk confirmed that the government would carefully consider all of the Penfold Review's recommendations.

He said construction businesses should not have to deal with a complicated regulatory regime and insisted that devising innovative solutions could save time and money, as well as encourage growth.

The Penfold Review's recommendations have been backed by the Country Land and Business Association, which said its ideas could deliver "real improvements" and achieve the objectives of non-planning consents more effectively.