Figures are also given separately for authorities' performance in deciding commercial and industrial applications. The Government has set local planning authorities the target of deciding 80 per cent of planning applications within 8 weeks. This target recognises that some applications will be too complex to be decided within that time. This service will continue to be provided. The checklist aims to highlight information from the GSS publications which is of particular interest to the general public.
Local authorities differ in size and some receive far more planning applications than others.
The planning service is supported by planning application fees paid by applicants and by the general resources made available to local authorities by local and national taxpayers. It is for each authority to decide the level of resources to devote to planning services. This may influence their performance against the 8 week target. In addition to the total decisions taken by each authority, statistics are presented for planning decisions relating to all 'commercial and industrial' developments. This category covers a wide range of development types, including dwellings, offices, research and development, light industry, heavy industry, storage and warehousing, retail distribution and servicing.