Hard Working Planning Officers Have Not been Frustrating Development, Says POS

Date: 6/9/2012

In response to the recent announcement of proposed changes to Permitted Development Rights John Silvester, the POS Spokesperson, said  "to say that these measures will get planners off our backs implies that hard working planning officers have been deliberately frustrating development; that is just not the case."

Whilst the Society supports the intentions to boost the economy Silvester added "it's the economy, not planning, that's holding development back; we also have serious concerns as to the considerable impact of neighbours amenities that doubling the PD rights could have. It really seems to be taking matters out of the local decision makers hands to the national level."

Silvester quipped "I wonder what MPs would say if their neighbours were now to build a big fat extension next to their houses?"

The Society also voiced concern at the loss of planning fee income to local authorities and doubted that householders could readily find the necessary finance  to extend their homes in straigtened times.

• The LGA's surveys have shown that last year councils hit a ten year high in the percentage of applications approved for all types of development (with 87 per cent of applications receiving approval).
• See the related article in The Daily Telegraph 7th September featuring an interview with Malcolm Sharp, President POS