Search
 

CBI Calls For Radical Planning Reform

LONDON-The Confederation of British Industry has responded to the government's planned shake-up of the planning system with a call for an even more radical approach. It says the existing system is thwarting economic growth.

By Graham Parker | Updated on July 25, 2001

LONDON-The Confederation of British Industry has attacked the UK’s ‘slow and uncertain’ planning system, which it says is damaging productivity and thwarting economic growth. The government this week announced an overhaul of the planning system for major infrastructure projects but the CBI wants to see reform of the system for all applications.

In England alone businesses make 3,000 planning applications a week but Government figures show delays cost business around £600 million ($850 million) per annum. a year. Under government guidelines all applications should receive a decision within eight weeks, but the CBI says more than half of all commercial applications take longer than this and for major decisions three quarters of all applications fail to meet the target timescale.

CBI Deputy Director-General, John Cridland, said: ‘The government has just announced a ‘fast track’ route for dealing with projects of national importance but at a day-to-day level businesses big and small also need the right planning decisions to be made, and for them to be made quickly and openly. Too often the system is acting as a brake on productivity.’

Want to continue reading?
Become a Free ALM Digital Reader.

Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Unlimited access to GlobeSt and other free ALM publications
  • Access to 15 years of GlobeSt archives
  • Your choice of GlobeSt digital newsletters and over 70 others from popular sister publications
  • 1 free article* every 30 days across the ALM subscription network
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM events and publications

*May exclude premium content
Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

GlobeSt

Join GlobeSt

Don't miss crucial news and insights you need to make informed commercial real estate decisions. Join GlobeSt.com now!

  • Free unlimited access to GlobeSt.com's trusted and independent team of experts who provide commercial real estate owners, investors, developers, brokers and finance professionals with comprehensive coverage, analysis and best practices necessary to innovate and build business.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM and GlobeSt events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join GlobeSt

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.