Then there are question marks over how local councils will resource their planning departments once valuable fee income starts to drain out into the hands of third-party providers. Councils will still have to pay for the costs of determining applications, but without the fee income they currently receive for handling them.
This month, home construction has been reported to drop even lower after a shaky start to the year. The Government is treading a confused line. On the one hand, the Government is removing red tape in an effort to ease the Housing Crisis. One the other, they are giving power to the people. The Localism Act allows inhabitants to become involved in the planning process for their area and control perceived over-development.This latest move, which confers the ability for developers to choose their preferred planning officer is yet another spoon to mix the pot. Planning is notoriously political, something which will only be heightened by the entry of third parties into the mix.
