A report from AtkinsRéalis reveals challenges in the UK planning system that are causing delays and extending project timelines, threatening viability and delivery.
The firm sounded out 200 planning professionals, developers and public sector practitioners, held industry roundtables and conducted investor research.
Almost two-thirds of respondents (62%) said planning timelines significantly influenced investment decisions or were a major determinant.
More than two-thirds said decision-making remains slow (40%) or very slow (29%).
‘Cumulative friction at multiple stages’
Delays are rarely caused by a single factor, however. Instead, the system suffers from cumulative friction at multiple stages, particularly around statutory consultee delays (57%), inconsistent decision-making (44%), complexity of assessments (33%), and local planning authority resource constraints (69%) – the latter despite a recent influx of new planners.
Factors outside the scope of the local planning authority also emerged as a concern in the survey: 39% cited incomplete or low-quality submissions as having the most impact on the speed of planning decision-making, and half (52%) attributed delays to statutory consultee input.
The report outlines proactive measures that could help to deliver planning at pace, such as skills expansion across local planning authorities, standardised national templates and reform of the consultation process.
‘Certainty as much as speed’
AtkinsRéalis’ UK & Ireland president Chris Ball said certainty is just as important as speed in shifting more projects into delivery.
“There are some inherent challenges within the system that depend on more than the regulatory framework. Investment in skills, a delivery-focused culture and the effective, consistent use of digital tools will all positively impact productivity and pace across the planning process,” he said.
“The positive news is that recent reforms and an influx of new planners into the sector are all helping to create greater confidence in the system, but we all have a role to play to unlock investment and deliver the infrastructure and homes that will support long-term growth.”
The report recommends implementing recent reforms, changing behaviours in the planning profession, improving planning authority capacity, using digital tools more, and strengthening coordination between planning, environmental and infrastructure processes.
Download the report: Planning at Pace: Creating Certainty for Investment and Delivery.
