CONCLUSIONS
Overall respondents were generally supportive of the new development management procedures being put forward in the consultation paper. The comments and concerns that arose were presented in a helpful and constructive way with a view to contributing to the modernisation of the planning application process.
While most respondents were supportive of the proposals for enhanced scrutiny the proposal relating to the minimum statutory requirements received a mixed response. Respondents in the "Planning and National Park Authorities and Joint Plan Teams" category were generally in favour of what was being proposed while respondents in the "Businesses and Developers" category were either not in favour or provided comments.
The proposals being put forward in relation to the content of applications and validation appeared to be a source of concern among respondents particularly those in the "Planning and National Park Authorities and Joint Plan Teams" category and the "Businesses and Developers" category.
The new procedures being put forward for neighbour notification and publicity for applications received significant support from respondents particularly among those in the "Planning and National Park Authorities and Joint Plan Teams" category.
The requirements being suggested in relation to time periods for decisions appeared to create differing viewpoints. A number of respondents in the "Planning and National Park Authorities and Joint Plan Teams" category were supportive of what was being proposed whereas, in contrast, a number of respondents in the "Businesses and Developers" category were not.
The proposals being put forward in relation to the control of increase in gross floorspace received particular support from respondents in the "Planning and National Park Authorities and Joint Plan Teams" category. However in relation to the proposal to allow all operators to increase the internal floorspace of their building by a set amount of 200 sqm respondents in the "Businesses and Developers" category were the grouping where there was most disagreement on this matter. Some members of the development industry expressed concern about the fundamental nature of introducing controls on internal floorspace.
A theme which ran through a number of responses to the consultation paper was concern about the potential administrative burden and delays that respondents, in their view, felt may arise from the changes being proposed.
Finally a related theme to emerge was the issue of the potential complexity of the DMR and that this should be avoided and so remain in keeping with the spirit of planning modernisation.