20 June 2005
Planning applications will now be accepted and processed completely online with the UK's first standardised planning application form introduced.
The new service, known as the Planning Portal, is a one-stop online service developed by the Planning Inspectorate and is aimed at professionals in the planning sector as well as residents and attempts to speed up the planning process.
Prospective house buyers can now log on to the site and look at any planning developments which have been submitted for the area and view maps.
House owners can also submit their own planning application using online forms and check the appeals process.
One hundred per cent of the 387 District Local Planning Authorities are now working with the portal to offer e-planning services including online planning applications across England and Wales.
Planning application can currently differ substantially according to the local authorities, with the numbers of copies needed and the information required varying.
This inconsistency is a major challenge to planning agents submitting applications in different localities, as they are unable to put one simple application process in place.© DeHavilland Information Services plc
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