Government survey reveals that London local authorities make 80% of planning decisions within eight weeks.

Local authorities make planning decisions more quickly in London than anywhere else in the UK.

A government survey has revealed that from October to December 2004 80% of decisions were made within eight weeks, an increase of 9% on the previous year.

Decisions were slowest in the North East where only 73% of decisions were made within eight weeks.

In the same period district planning authorities in England received 159,000 applications for planning permission and other consents. The office of the deputy prime minister said it was the largest number received during this period since 1988 and was 3% higher than the corresponding period in 2003.