Concerns over proposed overhaul of Welsh planning system - Wales Online

Concerns over proposed overhaul of Welsh planning system - Wales Online:



The Welsh Government has been frustrated by the reluctance of the local politicians to accept the training provided, it has been thwarted time and again in its attempts to bring forward more development and at the same time has had to intervene when local politicians have been trying to override local and national policy, the growth in agricultural workers dwellings in some counties being a case in point. How can you have unbiased planning policy and decisions when the farming community appears to dominate the planning committees?



In one case a planner was told he would get the sack if he didn't do what was asked of him, another was told "you like your job don't you?" by another committee member.



The planning system is bust, we can't carry on like this.



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BBC News - House builders blame red tape for 12% drop in Wales during 2013

BBC News - House builders blame red tape for 12% drop in Wales during 2013: "Responding to the latest drop in housing registrations in Wales, Glyn Mabey, the regional chairman for Persimmon in Wales, blamed planning rules and the costs of regulation.

"What the fall in new registrations does highlight is the huge problem of getting planning applications approved in a timely manner and then excessive pre-start conditions which are delaying the physical build work actually commencing on site," he told BBC Wales.

The company is increasing the number of houses it is building this year, but he said it had to overcome the "hindrance of a negative planning system" that didn't encourage growth or help create jobs."



A devolution dividend?



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