Penfold Review of Non-Planning Consents (Government Response)

Mark Prisk Excerpts

Wednesday 3rd November 2010 Written Statements

[The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Mr Mark Prisk)]

The Government have today published their response to the review into non-planning consents by Adrian Penfold which was published on 3 July 2010.

The Penfold review was set up to find out what problems business, and especially small businesses, encounter that can make or break investment in development. The investigation into “non-planning consents”, such as environment permits, highways orders, and heritage consents that are needed alongside or after planning permission, found a complex and fragmented landscape that poses real problems for some businesses to navigate effectively.

The Government are committed to providing a regulatory environment that effectively delivers our policy commitments, but minimises unnecessary delay, complexity and cost for business and other applicants. Encouraging such an environment in the planning and development consents systems is crucial in ensuring the UK develops a competitive business environment that underpins business success, attracts investment and ultimately promotes economic growth.

The Government therefore welcome the recommendations of the Penfold review and will begin work to develop concrete reforms of the development consents system based upon the findings of the review. Our ambition is to use this review as a base from which to drive a programme of streamlining and simplification in the planning and development consents systems.

A further report will be published in spring 2011 with an update on progress.

Copies of the Government response to the Penfold review have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.