DDC awarded Smarter Planning Champions status

Dover District Council has been awarded 'Smarter Planning Champion' status in recognition of their drive for efficiency and improving the delivery of their planning application service.

Smarter Planning is a partnership between planning agents, local planning authorities (LPAs) and the Planning Portal. The Portal is the UK Government's on-line planning and building regulations resource for England and Wales. The initiative aims to encourage and support best practice in the electronic submission and processing of planning applications.
 
So far, just 16 planning authorities in the country have achieved the requirements and been accredited with Smarter Planning Champion status, and Dover is the first district in Kent to do so.
 
Cllr Nicholas Kenton, DDC Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste and Planning said: "This initiative is a recognised example of best practice and delivers a smarter planning application system that ultimately saves time and money - and is better for the environment. The specialist status also comes with free training, resources and advice to help us work in partnership with local planning agents and keep up to speed with future innovations. This is good news for the district and underlines our ambition as an area going for growth, enterprise and opportunity."

Chris Kendall, Director, Planning Portal said: "Many congratulations to Dover District Council on becoming a 'Smarter Planning Champion'. Our Smarter Planning scheme is all about working with LPAs and planning professionals to deliver a faster, more effective planning application system on-line. I'm delighted Dover is now reaping the benefits of promoting and processing planning applications electronically. Dover's team has already started to encourage their planning agents to achieve 'champion' status, too."