Local planning authorities must hit their targets if they are to provide the high quality service their communities deserve, Planning Minister Keith Hill said today.

In a statement to parliament Mr Hill said the government was not afraid to engage or ultimately intervene in authorities who were failing to make planning decisions within the target time.

Keith Hill said: “Local planning authorities play an important role in helping us deliver thriving, sustainable communities. A speedy turnaround of applications can mean projects get off the ground faster and we get people into the homes they need more quickly.”

“We've given an extra £350 million to local planning authorities to give them the financial resources they need to hit the targets. However, it's clear some authorities are still failing. We will engage and, where necessary, intervene to get improvements."

Mr Hill emphasised he will work with local authorities to ensure improvements are made.

"No one is expecting those failing authorities to change overnight, but we expect them to be making steps in the right direction.” Hill said, “We are already looking closely at authorities that are not. At this stage, we are helping them to look at how best to improve their performance. But if they cannot or will not improve their performance, we shall have to consider whether further steps are necessary.”

"Where we intervene in a planning authority we will carry it through with determination and vigour. Any authority at risk of not meeting the targets would be liable to intervention."

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s public service agreement 6 requires all local planning authorities to complete local development frameworks by 2006 and to perform at or above best value targets for development control by 2006 with interim milestones to be agreed in the service delivery agreement.

The development control targets are to handle 60% of major applications in 13 weeks, and 65% of minor applications and 80% of other (householder) applications in eight weeks.

Performance for the year ending March 2003 against the three targets was 43%, 54% and 72% respectively.