SMEs will welcome proposed changes to planning laws

19 December 2006:

The Treasury-commissioned review of planning laws, announced this week by Kate Barker, will be welcomed by SMEs according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) http://www.fsb.org.uk.

The proposals would make it simpler for small businesses to go ahead with minor developments and extensions without the need for planning permission, which can be complicated and time-consuming. It warned however that any changes to planning laws must still allow for the proper scrutiny of supermarkets, which are already under investigation by the Competition Commission for the alleged abuse of existing planning laws.

The Barker Review of Land Use Planning was commissioned by the Chancellor to find ways of improving the efficiency and speed of the system. Kate Barker is an economist and member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

Kate Barker's final report can be downloaded here