The three Welsh National Parks welcome a report by Price Waterhouse Cooper on their Planning Services.  The report highlights “evidence of significant improvements over the past 18 months” and shows that the National Parks compare favourably with other rural planning services in Wales.

The report identifies key areas for measuring success and shows that progress has been made in all areas.  Specific attention is drawn to:

(1)     National Parks approve the same percentage of applications as other Local Planning Authorities

(2)     National Parks are performing better in some types of applications than a number of other rural Local Planning Authorities

(3)     National Parks have improved their pre-application support and information

(4)     There has been on average a 24% improvement across all three National Parks in the time it takes to process applications

The report acknowledges that there are challenges ahead most notably the drop in the number of applications received as a result of the economic downturn and the knock on effect on income.

Cllr Eric Saxon, Chairman of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, said on behalf of the three Welsh National Parks:  “We welcome this report.  This is a positive report which acknowledges the excellent improvement in performance made over the past 18 months.  The report dispels the myth that National Parks are more likely to refuse a planning application than other Local Planning Authorities and acknowledges that we perform better in some type of applications. Particularly encouraging from my perspective is that Price Waterhouse Cooper have commended our governance arrangements and their report points to several examples of good practice.”

Aneurin Phillips, Chief Executive of Snowdonia National Park Authority said:  “Price Waterhouse Cooper has completed a challenging undertaking. This is groundbreaking work here in Wales. The report concludes that the Welsh National Parks are improving and that they are delivering their statutory purposes in a way that is positive and supportive.”