Planning team recognised for the speed and quality of decisions

Our planning department has been recognised for the speed and quality of its decision making.

Each year, planning authorities across the UK are ranked on their performance by Planning Resource, the sector’s leading publication.

Authorities are then also given a grading to reflect how well they are performing.

In the latest rankings, which were published last month, we've been listed among the top local authorities and given a gold standard classification – improving from bronze in 2024.

Reliable indication of performance

The assessment looks in detail at how quickly planning authorities process applications, as well as the quality of the decisions. It uses government data and is seen as a reliable and robust representation of how councils are performing in this area.

So far in 2025, we've received 1,700 planning applications. The majority of these will be processed by our staff as they do not meet the threshold required for consideration by the planning committee.

Vindication of hard work being done

Councillor Alison Thomson, chair of planning at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “It is great to see our planning department recognised in this way.

“Our officers do a fantastic job and receiving a gold standard classification from Planning Resource is a positive vindication of the hard work being done, not only to balance the need to make decisions quickly, but also to make the right decision.”