Cuts in local planning staff of more than 30% over the past five years is now undermining economic recovery across the North West region, according to the Royal Town Planning institute (RTPI).
New research, carried out on behalf of the RTPI by Arup, found that local planning services are surviving on the “goodwill and professional integrity” of their officers. This is a situation that is not, they warned, sustainable.
The region’s ability to provide homes, schools, hospitals and other major infrastructure is being put at risk and this could, the report claims, prevent the region from taking full advantage of the opportunities that will arise from the creation of a Northern Powerhouse.
Joanne Harding, chair of the North West region of the RTPI, said: ‘Planning authorities across the North West are doing everything they can to improve the quality of their service, despite very significant funding cuts. We need greater reinvestment in planning services from sources such as the New Homes Bonus and other related income. This would help put planning services on a more stable footing at a critical time for the North West.’
The findings also show that, while the time taken to determine applications is still good, there are indications of an increasing amount of delays in receiving pre-application advice, S106 agreements and discharge of conditions.
The RTPI also highlights the fact that local planning authorities are an important source of income for councils, a positive contribution which, they argue, is rarely reflected in the funding provided to planning services.
‘The clear danger,’ warns RTPI president Janet Askew, ‘is that further reductions in budgets could exacerbate a cycle of decline in more authorities, and therefore reduce further planners’ ability to help to deliver vital development.’