PLANNING practices in Wales are unpredictable, “under stress” and may discourage economic development, an independent report has warned.

A report into the planning application process by consultants GVA Grimley recommended 16 separate measures to improve the system, all of which have been accepted by the Welsh Assembly Government, which commissioned the study.

Findings showed there was a “basic consensus that the process itself remains a fundamentally fair mechanism for decisions on new development” but said that “very few are happy with its operation or impact.”

“Many of the concerns were rooted in the increasing responsibilities being placed on the system, combined with the lack of resources to deal effectively with these,” the report said. “In some places this is causing a breakdown in the relationship between applicants and authorities and this could in turn discourage economic development.”

The aim of the project was to look at how planning applications were processed and what were the barriers to making timely decisions.

The report found a lack of consistency across Wales in terms of planning procedures for the validation, registration and processing of applications – with the rate of refused or returned applications ranging from 2% in one council to 70% in another.

Recommendations included for WAG to issue new policy statements on the promotion of sustainable economic development and SMEs and encouraged more applications to be submitted electronically, and introduce a standard approach to the validation of planning applications starting with a list of national requirements.

The report concluded that the process was in need of “significant improvement if it is to be effective in supporting sustainable economic growth.”

There was also a call to relax requirements for certain types of information, making applications less complex and to issue guidance on content and use of planning conditions to encourage a more standard approach.

Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing Jane Davidson said she was pleased that the research had “identified good practice” and reported that there was no need for any fundamental changes.

She said: “It is important that the way individuals and businesses make planning applications should be as simple, efficient and clear as possible. As Wales recovers from the recession is it important that we have a system that provides support.

“This is one of the most important planning research projects we have undertaken. It is time that we got back to basics and looked closely at the planning application process. The Assembly Government wants to get rid of any barriers to making timely decisions that deliver sustainable development and give us an effective system to support economic recovery.”

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Cymru said that they supported the minister’s response to the report and that it would ultimately make the process less cumbersome and help economic recovery.

Roisin Willmott, national director of RTPI Cymru said: “These changes will require resources to deliver, both within the Assembly and in local authorities, but given the current economic situation and possible cuts to capacity within local planning teams there is a serious question about the ability of councils to deliver on this important agenda.”

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