More than 30 councils below 'special measures' threshold, figures show

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has published figures showing that at least 35 local authorities determined 30% or fewer of its major planning applications within 13 weeks in the third quarter of 2012.

The Growth and Infrastructure Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, proposes to allow developers to choose to submit major applications directly to the Planning Inspectorate rather than the local authority. The option will apply if the authority has been specially designated on grounds of having a poor track record in performance.

According to the figures, which did not have data on all local authorities, more than 30 authorities fell below the special measures threshold in the three-month period ending September 2012. This included eight authorities who determined less than 15% within the 13 week period.

The 30% threshold was proposed by the Government in a consultation launched in November. The paper proposed that performance should be assessed once a year and be averaged over a two year period. It also set out thresholds to assess the quality of planning applications.

Following the launch of the consultation, Planning Minister Nick Boles said that local authorities heading into the 'danger zone' would be offered help from the Government.

"I have had discussions with the Local Government Association, with full support from the Department and my officials putting an arm round those authorities that are beginning to get into the danger zone and helping ensure that they get out before the axe falls, before the designation becomes real," Boles said.