Builders frustrated with planning system's delays and lack of resources

An under-resourced planning system is causing delays in home construction and discouraging foreign investment in Britain, according to developers. A survey conducted by CMS, the law firm, found that 90% of builders believe the planning system is slowing down development, while an even greater proportion of the 270 questioned said the delays were the result of a lack of planning officers around the country. Martin Evans, a partner in the CMS planning team, said Britain's planning process was “increasingly raised as an issue when inward investors are looking at the UK”. It comes as data from Barbour ABI, a construction analytics group that feeds figures into the Office for National Statistics, showed that planning applications for infrastructure projects had fallen by 45% between April and June. 

The Times (10/07/2023)