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While HBF welcomes the fact that the Government is clearly taking the recommendations made in the Killian Pretty Review seriously, the measures proposed in the Government response released today must be implemented promptly and in full if they are to make any significant improvement to the planning application process, and so speed up housing delivery.

All parties now need to work together to ensure the 17 recommendations made in the original review are implemented in as timely manner as possible. In addition there should be a particular focus on the items that will assist housing delivery in the current climate, such as allowing minor amendment of permissions and ensuring the amount of information required to be submitted with planning applications is proportionate.

Andrew Whitaker, HBF’s Planning Director said today “We are pleased to see that the Government is taking the Review findings seriously and seeking to address the 17 recommendations in considerable detail. Many of the recommendations require changes to current practice and culture rather than legislation or regulation and can be implemented almost immediately. Where further studies and consultation needs to take place these should be done as soon as possible.

“Clearly, everyone involved in the development management process has a role to play in such change whether they are local authority officers or members or applicants and agents. HBF and its members will, of course, be keen to assist in the implementation of change to the planning application process.”