New data shows that local planning authorities (LPAs) in the Northern Powerhouse decided 22% more major applications per resident than Greater London LPAs in the last year.

Volume of decisions, approval rates and decision times broadly stable in 2016.

Optimism amongst both applicants and planning officers that policy approaches can improve decision making and reduce pressure on the system.

The fifth annual planning survey, published by the British Property Federation and GL Hearn, has found that the Northern Powerhouse is delivering more planning decisions per capita than Greater London.

For the first time, the research examined major application decisions across 25 boroughs in the Northern Powerhouse, showing that they made 11 major planning application decisions per 100,000 residents, compared to nine decisions per 100,000 residents in Greater London.

The largest ever independent assessment of the planning system has also shown that despite a lack of resources at some LPAs, the planning system has broadly stabilised after some years of flux. Average decision making times remained stable at 31 weeks, overall approval ratings for major applications held steady at approximately 87% and there was a slight dip in the overall volume of major applications decided.

Despite this, the survey showed that overall sentiment in the industry is the worst it has ever been, with more planning officers (65%) and developers (36%) than everconcerned that the system is getting worse. 80% of applicants were dissatisfied with the time it takes for decisions to be made on planning applications, the highest figure since the survey began in 2012.

The data has also shown that many in the industry are hopeful that a number of proposed policy solutions could reduce application decision times and help alleviate resourcing issues at LPAs.

• 56% of applicants and 44% of LPA officers believe that ‘planning performance reviews’ would improve decision making times and reduce resourcing pressures at LPAs.

• Some policies were more divisive; 66% of applicants and only 19% of LPA officers believe ‘permission in principle’ would improve decision making times and reduce resourcing pressures at LPAs.

• Conversely, 53% of LPA officers supported changes to planning application fees but only 31% of applicants thought they would make a difference.

Although each side of the industry may have different preferences, it is clear that there is significant support for a range of policies to improve the system; such as the introduction of a brownfield register; changes to planning application fees; the use of ‘permission in principle’ and – more than any other policy – planning performance reviews.

Alastair Crowdy, managing director of Capita Real Estate Advisory and GL Hearn, said:

“The fact that the Northern Powerhouse is deciding more major applications per resident than London is a hugely promising sign for growth in the North – and one that shows the consequent development has potential to drive economic growth right across the country.

Given the concerns about the need for investment in the system expressed in 2015, it should be seen as positive that the planning system is delivering broadly as well as it was last year. However, our survey data shows that the majority of the industry is concerned that the status quo isn’t going to be enough to deliver the development that Britain needs.

It is clear that in a time of economic uncertainty it is unlikely that we’ll see the planning system receive a huge investment boost; we all know that there are other, more pressing priorities for the Government and for local authorities. As a result, we all need to work together – planners, developers and central government – to deliver innovative solutions and policies that will help get Britain planning again.”