Bristol pilot streamlines planning for householder applications

The initiative was launched by the Council’s planning department and offers agents the opportunity to become "accredited" by correctly filling out planning applications. Once accredited, agents are offered preferential treatment.

The scheme is aimed at architects and agents who serve the Bristol householder development market. To qualify, agents must join the scheme and submit three consecutive ‘right first time’ applications to win accreditation.

Once accredited, agents would be entitled to incentives including the opportunity to bypass the usual validation process, a guaranteed time to reach the case officer's desk for determination, and a commitment to try and achieve a quicker decision.

"Getting a planning application right first time every time through to validation stage will lead to accreditation and fast tracked decisions," the Council said. The decision time could be reduced from eight weeks to six, for accredited agents.

The process to validate planning applications can be time consuming. Over the course of a year Bristol City Council sends out around 1800 letters asking for further information or clarification on what has been submitted, it said.  If this number of letters can be reduced, there will be savings of officer time and costs to the Council, it added.

Other accreditation schemes have resulted in improved applications, more efficient processing and better quality applications, ultimately resulting in fewer appeals and saving time and money, the Council said.

Under the scheme, agents will be required to meet an agreed code of practice, but will be entitled to advertise their accredited status.

“It’s all about doing better business, and it’s one of those schemes which works well for everybody. As an authority, we save council tax payers’ money when we aren’t wasting time processing poorly filled out applications, so we are happy to offer accreditation and faster decisions for those who do it well,"  said Anthony Negus, executive member for housing, property services and regeneration. "It is also helpful to the householder, who will be able to refer to an accredited list and reduce the risk of additional costs.”

The scheme is initially being run as a pilot. The pilot will last for six months and is only open to housebuilders.