Plymouth one of the UK's top spots for planning green lights

Plymouth on peak planning performance

Plymouth is a hot spot for developers with the city coming second only to Birmingham for the proportion of major applications processed on time.

Latest figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government show that of over 200 major applications considered by Plymouth’s Planning Committee from June 2011 to June this year, 79.1 per cent were approved within target.

Major applications are those for ten or more dwellings and at least 1,000 square metres of non-residential floor space.

Examples of developments that have been given the green light through the planning process in that time includes the Home Park development, Ernesettle extra care housing scheme, the Theatre Royal regeneration, Marine Academy Plymouth, St Budeaux, Royal William Yard (various) and the Admiralty House at Mount Wise including a hotel, restaurant, boutique and homes.

Since 2009 the Council’s planning committee has approved £1.84 billion worth of development. So far this financial year, the committee has approved over £200 million – despite a recession.

Councillor Brian Vincent, the Cabinet Member whose portfolio includes planning, said: “We’ve already made it clear that Plymouth wants to see growth and we are making it as simple as possible for developers and companies to invest here.”

The figures show that the city planners have not only reached but surpassed the nationally-set targets for ensuring major planning applications are processed as speedily as possible, he said and added: “Some of these are incredibly complex projects worth millions of pounds.

“The message is getting out there that Plymouth is the place to invest, to build and a place that is actively seeking to get bigger and better.”

The city fared better than Bristol and came fifth out of 400 local authorities across the country in terms of the volume of major decisions.

Paul Barnard, Assistant Director for Planning Services said: "It is a testament to the hard work of the planning officers and the work of all the members of the Planning Committee, who are balancing the city’s need to grow and to build its reputation, with the needs of the people who live here.

“All development carries an element of risk but having a clear and positive planning framework for investment decisions to be made makes the city more attractive.”