Planning magazine recently did a new ranking of England’s local authorities to see which ones were the best. They considered a number of factors to find how good each authority was at making decisions. There were four levels; platinum, gold, silver, and bronze. We want to have a closer look at the results and criteria here. Then, if you need help with estate management in Ealing, you can trust us.
Considerations
Planning is one of the most complex jobs for local councils. They have to consider if proposals provide more value than potential harm. There are also various requirements to keep in mind, such as delivering affordable housing. Sometimes it can be even harder too because of things like listings to preserve buildings.
To give a fair ranking to each local authority, Planning magazine had two main factors. First, they had a look at how long it typically takes the council to make a decision. This is crucial in many projects. Sadly, some councils are slower than others and have a big backlog of proposals to work through. So it can take many months for projects to progress and get a decision.
Secondly, they had a look at the quality of the planning decisions. This is subjective in a way as stakeholders have different goals. However, they could consider important factors like how often a decision is overturned. If lots of appeals are successful, it reflects poorly on the decision makers.
Findings
Several local authorities got the highest platinum ranking. Impressively, they are in locations all across England. The top twelve includes places like Southend-on-Sea, North Tyneside, and Oldham. Only one authority in London got the top ranking; Ealing. This is great news for people planning projects in the area. They can then come to us for services like estate management in Ealing and more.
Shital Manro, the Ealing Council cabinet member for Good Growth and New Homes was very happy with the ranking. He said it reflects the council’s success in ensuring they provide decisions in good time and support sustainable growth in the borough.
The councillor also said the local authority has a commitment to ensuring “the right developments happen here, in the right places, at the right times”. This is crucial for delivering new homes and creating jobs while also preserving the existing neighbourhoods in Ealing.
Councils who struggle with planning should have a look at the work that those local authorities do to get a platinum ranking. The goal should be to progress applications as efficiently as possible but also make the best decisions. Notably, work should be sympathetic to the areas and look to deliver as much value as possible for locals.
Do you need help with estate management in Ealing?
Finefair Ltd can deliver the ideal services if you have assets in Ealing or other parts of London. We can give you the support you need with tenancies, managing properties, and getting the most from portfolios. This can even include working with local councils and HMOs.
So, if you invest and need some assistance with estate management in Ealing or other areas, speak to us. We’ll give you a great service and value for money.
