Response - Greater flexibility for planning permissions

By: Deborah Garvie
Published: August 2009

Response - Greater flexibility for planning permissions

Our one area of concern is that, as the consultation recognizes, this measure may have the perverse effect of incentivising developers to delay implementing permission within three years, in the expectation of rising land values as the market recovers.  We therefore suggest that, when applying for an extension to planning permission, developers should be required to provide the reason for the extension.  Local planning authorities should only consider an extension where they are satisfied that it would be financially unviable for the developer to build out the site before the original planning permission lapses.  We also support the proposal that the effect of this measure should be kept under review.