§ 16. Mr. Majorasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those local authorities which decide on average less than 50 per cent. of their planning applications within eight weeks.
§ Mr. Giles ShawYes, Sir. I am arranging for the latest information to be circulated in the Official Report.
§ Mr. MajorI am very grateful to my hon. Friend for his positive response. Does he agree that the swift determination of planning applications is of immense importance to industry, commerce and individuals? What plans does he have further to hasten the response to such applications by those authorities that are still extremely slow?
§ Mr. ShawI share my hon. Friend's view that this is an important aspect of development. There has already been a welcome speeding up of decisions. From October to December 1981, planning authorities decided 70 per cent. of all applications within eight weeks compared with 62 per cent. in a previous quarter. However, I propose to make a direct approach to those authorities whose performance seems seriously inadequate.
Mr. R. C. MitchellIn his desire to speed up planning decisions, will the Minister ensure that the rights of individuals who object to planning decisions are not jeopardised?
§ Mr. HillDoes my hon. Friend agree that time is money in the building industry and that the long delays in 346 planning inquiries that are now taking place cause unnecessary expense? I refer especially to the inquiry on the western esplanade scheme in Southampton, which is tying up many millions of pounds and is preventing more than 3,000 people from obtaining employment on the site?
§ Mr. ShawI am aware of my hon. Friend's assiduous inquiries about the future of that scheme. It is a matter that my Department must examine. However, I assure my hon. Friend that the average time for determination of planning appeals through the written representation method is now 17 weeks as opposed to 21 weeks a few quarters ago.
§ Following is the information:
| Planning authorities in England deciding less than 50 per cent, of their planning applications within eight weeks in the quarter ending 31 December 1981 | ||
| Total Applications Decided | Per cent. Decided in 8 Weeks | |
| Southwark | 218 | 49.5 |
| Swale | 236 | 49.2 |
| Doncaster | 377 | 48.8 |
| Havering | 484 | 48.6 |
| Richmond-upon-Thames | 244 | 48.4 |
| City of London | 141 | 48.2 |
| Barnet | 407 | 47.9 |
| Birmingham | 926 | 47.1 |
| Waltham Forest | 248 | 46.8 |
| Wolverhampton | 245 | 46.5 |
| Hinckley and Bosworth | 221 | 46.2 |
| Dudley | 535 | 460 |
| Reading | 284 | 45.8 |
| Chiltern | 339 | 44.8 |
| Hertsmere | 158 | 43.7 |
| Maidstone | 245 | 43.7 |
| Enfield | 377 | 43.5 |
| Brighton | 256 | 43.4 |
| Brent | 373 | 43.4 |
| Guildford | 270 | 42.6 |
| East Hertfordshire | 359 | 42.3 |
| Sutton | 232 | 40.9 |
| Mendip | 342 | 40.1 |
| West Lancashire | 255 | 39.6 |
| Bridgnorth | 111 | 37.8 |
| Hillingdon | 300 | 37.0 |
| Knowsley | 67 | 34.3 |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | 386 | 33.7 |
| Peak District National Park | 138 | 33.3 |
| Kingston-upon-Thames | 260 | 21.9 |
| Bromley | 744 | 21.4 |
| Hackney | 154 | 13.6 |
| Woking | 258 | 11.6 |
§ Note: Returns are not yet available for this quarter for 26 authorities.
§ These are:
| Calderdale | Kennet |
| Carrick | Lake District National Park |
| Charnwood | Lancaster |
| Chester-le-Street | Lewes |
| Coventry | Lichfield |
| Croydon | Liverpool |
| Ealing | Merton |
| Rylde | Pendle |
| Hereford | Penwith |
| Hounslow | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Hove | Torridge |
| Hyndburn | Wandsworth |
| Isles of Scilly | Wyre |
§ The Department is continuing to press these authorities for these returns.