UKPlanning outsourced planning

Are you struggling to meet your 8 week targets? Have you backlogs without the staff to overcome them?

UKPlanning has developed a service as an alternative to employing temporary staff. For those local planning authorities struggling to achieve targets, UKPlanning's Outsourced Planning Service should be considered as a serious alternative. Our panel of consultants will remove the administrative burden associated with the planning process, in order to free up permanent staff for decision-making.

It may be that you want UKPlanning consultants simply to pick up any overspill, however if required, we can administer all applications. This is a fixed fee service, per application, so you can be assured that costs will not escalate.

The process

A consultant will be assigned to each application, and to avoid any conflict of interest, is guaranteed not to work in the private sector. He or she will:-

1. Review the application to ensure that it is valid.
2. Assess the application against Council and Government planning policies.
3. Request any further information or amendments
4. Carry out any negotiations with the applicant/agent or statutory committees.
5. Carry out site inspections where appropriate, and make any necessary records. This will be in the form of electronic file notes and digital photographs and/or video.
6. Provide a written report on the project for the lead officer in the Planning Service to consider. This report will be emailed to the lead officer, to agreed service levels, usually in Week 5. The report will:
1. Recommend approval, or
2. Recommend approval (with conditions), or
3. Recommend refusal (with reasons), or
4. Recommend the possibility for negotiation by setting out the criteria, that if satisfied, could lead to a recommendation for approval.
7. IDOX will keep the lead officer informed on any negotiation, progress and outcome of discussions with the applicant and/or agent. In turn, the lead officer will keep IDOX or its agents informed of any objections or discussions with neighbours.
8. Attend a weekly case meeting (half day).
9. Attend requested meetings with planning officers, as necessary.

Electronic service delivery

The cost of administering your applications with this UKPlanning service will mean a reduction in standard overheads. We can provide this cost efficient service because the assessment of the planning applications will be carried out on the electronic version of the application, wherever possible. In order for us to provide the service, the local authority must be signed up to the standard UKPlanning service so that hard copy and electronic application forms can be dealt with in this way.

Management

Our panel of consultants is hand picked from ex-local authority personnel with experience in all areas of planning work. Our Planning team is led by an ex-Director of Planning, The Development Control team is led by an ex-Development Control Manager, with over 20 years experience and a planning expert who provides the co-ordination required between the Council and the consultants.

The benefits

Outsource the process up to decision - removing the administrative burden entirely, or just backlogs.

• Quick win - so that you can recruit new staff at your own pace as recruitment can be costly and lengthy.
• Cost effective alternative to administering applications internally - fixed cost per case file.
• Panel of consultants who only work for the council.
• Guaranteed service levels - to ensure you meet targets.
• Transparent, open process - but the council remains in control.