"In the third quarter of 2006, 21 per cent of all decisions on ‘county matters’ applications were made within 8 weeks, 8 percentage points higher than in the corresponding quarter of 2005."
'County matters' planning statistics covering waste management and minerals for July to September 2006 have been released by DCLG. Waste developments accounted for 70% of the total decisions taken on 'county' submissions in this quarter.
‘County matters’ planning applications are predominantly concerned with minerals extraction and waste disposal developments.These applications are decided by the county-level planning authorities, i.e. county councils, metropolitan districts, unitary authorities, London boroughs, national park authorities and urban development corporations.
Because of the nature of county matters applications, the majority are handled by county councils.
County planning authorities receive around 2,000 ‘county matters’ applications each year. This is small compared with 600 thousand planning applications received by district planning authorities, though submissions can be complex with potential environmental impacts also.
Because of this relatively small number, quarterly figures for ‘county matters’ decisions are likely to be much more variable than those for districts.
Planning applications and decisions
In the third quarter of 2006, county planning authorities received 444 planning applications, a decrease of 13 per cent compared with the same quarter last year. County councils accounted for 89 per cent of total applications, unitary authorities for 7 per cent and metropolitan districts for 4 per cent.
The highest number of applications in the quarter were reported by Staffordshire (27), Norfolk and West Sussex (both 21).
County planning authorities reported 387 planning decisions in the quarter, 7 per cent more than last year.
Of these, 89 per cent were granted. The highest number of decisions were made by Nottinghamshire (17).
Waste developments accounted for 70 per cent of total decisions and minerals developments 22 per cent.
Permissions are also granted by authorities under Regulations 3 and 4 of the Town and Country Planning General Regulations 1992. The highest numbers of Regulation 3 consents were granted by Kent (69), Suffolk (59) and North Yorkshire (58).
In July to September 2006, the highest number of decisions was reported by Leicestershire (72), Essex (43) and Derbyshire (42). There were also six determinations under the review of mineral planning permissions (ROMPs).
Speed of decision
In the third quarter of 2006, 21 per cent of all decisions on ‘county matters’ applications were made within 8 weeks, 8 percentage points higher than in the corresponding quarter of 2005.
Authorities also made 62 per cent of decisions within 13 weeks; 24 percentage points higher than in the corresponding quarter of 2005 and 73 per cent within 17 weeks; 21 percentage points higher than in the corresponding quarter of 2005.
Enforcement action
In July to September 2006, county planning authorities issued 30 Enforcement Notices and served 3 Stop Notices. 15 Temporary Stop Notices, 50 Planning Contravention Notices and 12 Breach of Condition Notices were also served.