MAJOR changes are being made to how Dorset Council processes planning applications to help it cope with a massive increase in demand for its services.

The authority currently has an eight week backlog for validating new applications.

The council’s planning services have seen a large rise in the number of applications received during the pandemic - an average of 376 applications a month from January 2019 to December 2020.

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Planning chiefs say they will be doing 'a number of things' to manage the increase in business. These are:

*Planning officers will no longer visit every site to assess applications and if possible will make assessments using a 'desk-based approach'.

*More staff are being recruited to fill vacancies and to help cope with the extra workload.

*The authority is encouraging parish and town councils to respond to applications through an online register instead of emails.

*From July 1, neighbour notification letters for planning applications will be scrapped - unless specifically required - and those making planning applications will be asked to put up their own site notices.

*Other major changes will see the council introduce a new single planning software system, applicants encouraged to use a 'pre-application advice service' and only one set of amended plans allowed to be made for each application to 'lead to more efficiency'.

Between January 2019 and December 2020, the council received 9,022 planning applications - an average of 376 applications per month.

This year from January to the end of April, the council received 1,971 applications - an extra 383 applications compared to the same period in 2020.

And in March this year 482 applications were decided upon, which is higher than any month in the last two years.

Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council portfolio holder for planning, said: “We are seeing a huge increase in workload and we are still working within Covid restrictions.

"Most of our planning teams continue to work from home which has its own challenges. Everyone has been working incredibly hard in very trying circumstances, but we are using every opportunity to make our processes better.”