Jan 26 2005
A review of the planning rules to cut red tape for home improvements was announced by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
The Householder Development Consents Review aims to minimise bureaucracy for householders and local councils, while protecting neighbours’ interests and the local environment.
Planning applications from householders have almost doubled over the last ten years, with more than 330,000 between March 2003 and March 2004. Many of these applications are for modest improvements such as rear extensions and dormer windows.
The Deputy Prime Minister said:
“Householders and their neighbours need a fair, transparent and straight forward planning system. Simple home improvements should not require unnecessary bureaucracy that frustrates everyone involved.
“We must find ways to cut the red tape that currently affects thousands of householders and local authority planners. I'm announcing this review to advise me on what changes need to be made to achieve this.”
The Deputy Prime Minister continued:
"For home improvements as for all other types of development, the planning system has a vital role to play in protecting the interests of neighbours and the quality of the local built and natural environment. The review will not compromise this.
“It will build on the work we have already done to speed up the planning system and make it more user-friendly. It offers the opportunity to redirect skilled planning resources away from unnecessary regulation and towards delivering the sustainable communities of the future.”
The Householder Development Consents Review will look at:
- whether the current limits on the sort of improvements that householders can make without planning permission are the right ones;
- ways to consult neighbours at an earlier stage so that, where possible, disagreements can be resolved without involving local authorities.
- how to simplify and speed up the applications and approvals processes; and
- whether different types of approval (e.g. planning, listed buildings etc.) could be combined to make the system more user-friendly.
http://www.odpm.gov.uk