Leap in planning applications prompts council expansion
A council is having to undertake an expansion of its planning department to help tackle a huge increase in planning applications.
Head of planning and building control at St Albans City and District Council ,Tracy Harvey, told Planning: “We average 3,500 applications a year, an increase of more than 50 per cent since 2010.
“Applications relate to housing sites, a solar farm, office space, sheltered home schemes, retail units and works within a community forest and a power plant.
“The team is also involved in a legal challenge to a proposed rail-freight depot and progressing the district’s draft strategic local plan.”
At a meeting last week the council cabinet heard St Albans had nine vacancies in planning. Posts include development management planning officer and team leader.
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