Ministers look to cut through planning bureaucracy

The government has announced new plans to streamline development consent regimes for businesses in a bid to encourage development and stimulate economic growth following a review by Adrian Penfold, head of planning and environment, at British Land.

Mark Prisk, business minister and Bob Neill, planning minister said the government would take immediate steps to free developers from burdensome regulation and ensure that those responsible for consents were sharing best practice.

Neill said that by cutting some development-consents and an array of red tape, the government could go some way to helping British businesses thrive while at the same time ensuring it continued to meet its pre-established goals.

“It’s important we help our businesses and not hinder them with unnecessary burdens, so they can continue to be competitive and invest in communities throughout the country”, Neill said. An update on implementation will be issued in the spring.