Publisher's Synopsis
The emphasis on statutory development plan policy created through the introduction of section 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and the mandatory requirement for statutory local plan cover, has significantly increased the scale and complexity of development plan inquiries. This in turn has raised questions about the effectiveness and efficiency of the inquiry procedure. This report considers: trends in the length and cost of plan inquiries; factors determining their length and cost; how the inquiry procedure may be improved; the need for further guidance on good practice; and the general role and effectiveness of the inquiry procedure.
