Welsh Assembly launches probe into planning process

The Welsh Assembly has formed an independent review group to lead research into how the planning system can be sped up.   The new group will include representatives from the CBI, Federation of Small Businesses, Home Builders Federation in Wales, Royal Town Planning Institute in Wales, Advisory Panel on Standards for the Planning Inspectorate, and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Wales .   It will be led by Michael Sant, the former director of planning services to the defunct Land Authority for Wales .   However, the absence of planning consultants on the panel has been questioned.   Arfon Hughes, a partner at planning consultancy DPP in Cardiff, said: “Any effort to improve the efficiency of the planning system in Wales is to be welcomed.   “It is surprising however that the main users of the planning system – the planning consultants and architects who submit applications on a daily basis – are not represented in the group.”   patrick.clift@rbi.co.uk