Written question asked by Andrew Murrison (Conservative) on Monday, 4 February 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 7 February 2002. It was answered by Sally Keeble (Labour) on Thursday, 7 February 2002 on behalf of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Dept for Transport Local Government and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, what the average time was to process planning applications by each planning authority in England over the last 12 months. - Inc figures and fact that quarterly Statistics of Planning Applications Bulletin are available in the Libraries of the House.

Answer: Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the average time was to process planning applications by each planning authority in England over the last 12 months. [34412] Ms Keeble: The information needed to determine the average time for planning applications to be processed is collected centrally only for a small number of applications mainly relating to mineral extraction and waste disposal (known as "county matters"). These applications, which account for less than 1 per cent. of all planning applications, are often complex and take some time to determine. The speed at which decisions are made for the vast majority of planning applications, ie all except "county matters", is measured in terms of the proportion of decisions determined within eight weeks and within 13 weeks. In the year ending September 2001, 63 per cent. of these applications in England were determined within eight weeks and 83 per cent. within 13 weeks. More detailed information for each local authority in England on how quickly they process planning applications (using the eight and 13 week criteria) is published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in its quarterly Statistics of Planning Applications Bulletin and its annual Development Control Statistics Report. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

Secondary information