Construction investment could benefit from red tape-cutting proposals
2010-07-05
Construction businesses could benefit from simplified planning regulations and increased investor interest, according to the author of the Penfold Review into small business development.Adrian Penfold, engaged by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, recommends raising quality of and access to information in the construction industry, as well as improving the services provided by decision-making bodies through more stringent time requirements.
He commented: "My review presents a package of measures that would deliver real benefits to developers by removing unnecessary burdens and speeding up processes."
Andrew Whitaker, planning director at the Home Builders Federation, argued the proposals would "reduce delay, cost and risk for home builders".
The recommended measures, following on from an interim report conducted in March this year, focuses on non-planning consents, finding a "fragmented landscape" that may be problematic for development within the construction industry.
Mr Penfold highlighted the problems posed by the financial downturn and suggested his findings were in line with deregulatory trends in the current British political and economic landscape.
