Long planning delays stalling rural growth, says CLA

Rural businesses across England are facing many years of delays in securing planning permission, stalling growth, housing targets, and investment, according to new data from the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

The CLA sent Freedom of Information requests to 38 councils in rural areas, with 35 responding.

The results show lengthy delays in the planning process, with some councils failing to meet government-mandated deadlines.

In 2023, eight councils exceeded the target time to issue decisions, with delays ranging from months to years.

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Notably, Dorset Council took an average of 1,372 days (3.75 years) to process applications, while Babergh District Council and Mid Suffolk District Council took 345 and 381 days, respectively, for major projects.

The report reveals that rural areas are grappling with planning backlogs, with some cases dating back over a decade.

Fourteen councils are still sitting on applications submitted before 2020, and some cases, such as a proposed 94-home development in North Norfolk, are stalled after years of delays.

Smaller projects have also faced lengthy waits, including a 2007 application for a recreational fishing lake in South Norfolk, which remains unresolved.

Impact 

The CLA has expressed concern about the negative impact these delays are having on local economies.

“Our planning system is in crisis and it’s stagnating growth in the countryside,” said Victoria Vyvyan, president of the CLA.

“Rural businesses could grow, provide much-needed housing and employment, but they’re being hampered by a planning system that’s anything but nimble.”

The findings also show low approval rates in some councils.

Central Bedfordshire, for example, approved only 50% of projects between August 2023 and August 2024.

To address these issues, the CLA is calling on the government to invest £25m to hire additional planning officers and to introduce reforms to reduce red tape.

It also advocates expanding permitted development rights and implementing “permission in principle” for rural economic development, to streamline the process and ease financial burdens.

Support

Polling commissioned by the CLA shows broad support for reform.

A survey of England’s 100 most rural constituencies found that 56% of respondents believed reforming the planning system would stimulate rural growth, while 59% called for more affordable homes.

As the planning system continues to hinder rural development, many people, such as Peter Hogg, a rural business owner, are feeling the impact.

Mr Hogg’s attempt to convert a farmhouse into a B&B was delayed for over a year, costing him £30,000 in lost revenue.

He said: “If businesses like mine are to succeed, the government must cut the red tape that’s stunting our growth and livelihoods.”