COUNCIL income from planning applications in Mid Devon has dropped in the uncertain housing market.

Total income for Mid Devon District Council’s planning service fell by around £200,000 in the year to the end of March, according to figures given to the authority’s planning committee.

Income from planning and building control were nine per cent and 32 per cent short of targets respectively, which also led to land charges being more than third (35 per cent) below target.

However, in a potentially positive sign, earning from pre-application advice rose by a fifth (20 per cent), perhaps suggesting that interest in housebuilding remains evident.

The council appears to be getting the majority of its decisions correct, with only one per cent of major applications that it rejected overturned at appeal. That is compared to the 10 per cent it had allowed itself as a target for the year.

Similarly, just 0.5 per cent of minor applications were overturned at appeal, again well below its 10 per cent threshold.

In terms of timeliness, all applications that should be decided in eight weeks were, but the authority had 91 applications where no decision had been made in more than 13 weeks, compared to target of 45.

Almost all applications that need to be decided within six months were, though.

The council has faced pressure recently over planning enforcement, with struggles to keep staff which have led to the number of cases rising.

At the end of April, it had 355 open cases, but it deemed 332 of these as ‘low’ priority.

Nevertheless, in the first three months of the year, it received 96 new cases and only closed 59.

Councillors have pledged to tackle the planning enforcement backlog, and staffing numbers within the enforcement team have improved in recent months.

By Bradley Gerrard