Authorities proposals to hike planning utility charges have obtained a guarded welcome, with two business organisations warning that it is not a “silver bullet” answer.

On 25 April, the federal government closed a session on growing planning utility charges, together with a 35 per cent hike on charges for main developments – outlined as 10 or extra residential dwellings on websites of 0.5 hectares or extra. It additionally proposed a 25 per cent charge enhance for all different planning functions.

In response, Chartered Institute of Housing coverage and observe officer Hannah Keilloh and Royal City Planning Institute head of coverage observe and analysis Richard Blyth have every warned that merely elevating charges wouldn’t be a “silver bullet” to unravel capability issues.

Keilloh famous that additionally it is vital to furnish native authorities with “the extra sources and assist wanted to ship an efficient planning service, facilitated by expert and skilled planners and different technical and constructed setting specialists”.

Blyth described “historic underfunding of native authority planning groups”. He argued that elevated charges are “an vital first step” however  different elementary questions should be addressed by the federal government to “guarantee good – not simply quick – selections within the public curiosity”.

The British Property Basis (BPF) backed the proposed enhance in planning charges – however provided that the extra revenue is used to supply extra sources for native planning departments.

The BPF acknowledged that it “would assist a big enhance in planning charges if it means candidates will obtain a better stage of service”.

However it mentioned the additional revenue “should be used to extend sources for native planning departments” to spice up technical experience and allow functions to be processed sooner.

The BPF additionally mentioned the session lacked deal with growing sources for statutory consultees akin to Nationwide Highways and the Surroundings Company. It’s calling for “extra assist for all public our bodies, departments and companies concerned within the planning course of”.

BPF assistant director for planning and improvement Sam Bensted mentioned that underinvestment within the planning system was “resulting in expensive and pointless delays”.

“The property sector totally helps a rise in planning charges, however the extra revenue should be used to actually bolster native authority planning departments to assist guarantee we now have system that’s responsive and environment friendly,” he added.

In distinction, smaller housebuilders final month warned the federal government in opposition to growing planning utility charges.