A.51 Consenting bodies: Penfold Review - The Government will ensure the key consenting and advisory agencies have a remit to promote sustainable development as soon as the National Planning Policy Framework is finalised. The Government will also introduce a 13-week maximum timescale for the majority of non-planning consents, to speed up the consenting process and give certainty to developers. This will take immediate effect for Government agencies.
A.52 Consenting bodies: further measures - The Government will ensure that there is a more effective mechanism for applicants to obtain an award of costs, if there is an appeal against refusal of planning permission where a statutory consultee has acted unreasonably, through measures to be implemented in summer 2012. The Government will also improve the performance of the key statutory consultees in responding swiftly to applications. This will include key statutory bodies bringing forward an improvement by spring 2012.
A.53 Major infrastructure planning regime - The Government will build more flexibility into the major infrastructure planning regime, particularly in working with developers in the pre-application phase. These improvements will be implemented by summer 2012.
A.54 Habitats Directive - The Government will ensure that compliance with the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives does not lead to unnecessary costs and delays to development, while continuing to support the Directives' objectives. The Government will review the directives as currently implemented in England by Budget 2012 and is committed to tackling blockages for developments where compliance is particularly complex or has large impacts. In addition, the Government has announced progress on specific projects where compliance has already proved problematic, including Falmouth Harbour.
A.55 Planning appeals - The Government will review planning appeals procedures, seeking to make the process faster and more transparent, improve consistency and increase certainty of decision timescales. Proposals will be brought forward for implementation in summer 2012.
A.56 Reconsideration of obligations - The Government will consult on a proposal to allow the reconsideration of those planning obligations agreed prior to April 2010 where development is stalled.
A.57 Agricultural buildings use and planning permission - The Government will consult on proposals to allow existing agricultural buildings to be used for other business purposes such as offices and retail space, to make it easier for rural businesses to find the premises they need to expand.
A.58 Non-domestic micro-generation - The Government will introduce new permitted development rights for non-domestic micro-generation of electricity. This will incentivise the take up of small scale renewable and low carbon energy technologies.