Non-planning consents information on the Portal

In case you missed last week’s Planning Portal news on the Penfold Review we’ve been asked to support the work the Government is doing on non-planning consents.

The Penfold Review found that finding consistent information on some development consent regimes is difficult for end users and businesses. The review stated it was difficult to understand which consents are necessary and that the process is complex to navigate.

As part of its response to the review, the Government committed to improve online information about non-planning consents and make it easier to apply. The Government response included this section:

“K) The Government will add information and web links on major development consents to the Planning Portal

 “To better support developers and would-be applicants the Government will improve the information provided – helping developers know which development consents they may need to apply for, and how they should go about doing so.

 “The Department of Communities and Local Government runs an online portal which provides a ‘one stop shop’ for all types of planning applications, enabling developers to understand how to engage with the planning system. The Government will provide information and web links on the Planning Portal website covering the development consents that are regularly applied for with planning permission. These changes will go live on the Planning Portal from April 2012.”

We’ve now started work on this and will have information and links on an expanded range of non-planning consents related to development live on the site in April. We will be taking note of the feedback given on this topic via the blog earlier in the year.