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New plans to streamline development consents regimes for businesses in order to encourage development and stimulate economic growth were announced today by the Government.

Responding to Adrian Penfold’s review of non-planning consents, business minister Mark Prisk and planning minister Bob Neill said the Government will take immediate steps to free developers from burdensome regulation. It will also make sure that those responsible for these consents are sharing best practice.

The key conclusions of the Government’s response are:

in line with the commitment to a ‘one-in, one-out’ approach to regulation, Government will seek to simplify some existing consents where other new non-planning consents are proposed, to make sure that the overall burden on developers does not increase; ministers will consider how consents might be streamlined and simplified to make the process simpler and reduce the red tape on businesses; andBIS and CLG will work with other Government departments to drive forward these changes, and will provide an update on implementation in the Spring.

Business minister Mark Prisk said:

“We must stop putting obstacles in the way of British businesses. They will be the driving force behind our future economic growth.

“Adrian Penfold recognised the complex web of red tape and procedures that were a real hindrance to our construction and development sectors. Today we’re announcing real practical steps to cut out this unnecessary extra bureaucracy.

“Over the coming months, as part of this Government’s culture change away from regulation, I will be working closely with my colleagues across Government to streamline the planning and consents system to make sure that Britain is open for business.”

Planning minister Bob Neill said:

"By cutting some of the development consents red tape identified by Adrian Penfold, we can go some way to helping British businesses thrive while at the same ensuring we continue to meet a number of goals, such as delivering a decent road network or protecting endangered species.

"It’s important we help our businesses and not hinder them with unnecessary burdens, so they can continue to be competitive and invest in communities throughout the country."

Notes to editors

1. Adrian Penfold’s final review can be found at www.bis.gov.uk/penfold

2. Adrian Penfold is Head of Planning and Environment at British Land. He has in the past worked in local government and for the London Docklands Development Corporation where he had responsibility for Canary Wharf and the surrounding sites and related major infrastructure projects. From 1990 to 1996 he was Head of Planning and Design at Dartford Borough Council. Major projects include the Bluewater regional shopping centre and the Ebbsfleet Channel Tunnel Rail Link station. At British Land he has dealt with a number of major mixed use development projects in central London. He has also managed large scale, mixed use, office, residential and retail planning projects elsewhere in the UK. He has wide experience of working with Government officials on planning policy matters, including the Mayor of London’s planning powers. He was a member of the Barker Review of Land Use Planning’s Panel of Experts, and is now a member of the DCLG Planning Sounding Board.

3. BIS' online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.

Contacts:

BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Joshua Coe
Phone: 020 7215 5943
Joshua.Coe@bis.gsi.gov.uk