Businesses across South Yorkshire are being asked to share their experiences with the local planning systems to highlight what works well and where they believe there is room for improvement as part of a new poll conducted by South Yorkshire’s three Chambers of Commerce.
The survey seeks to create a baseline for how businesses currently experience the planning system, understand where there might be blockages, and identify areas for improvement.
Among other things, it asks respondents to outline how satisfied they have been with the outcomes of any planning applications they may have submitted in the past, the ease with which they have been able to engage with the Local Planning Authority (LPA) in question, and their awareness of the various support mechanisms that are available to help them at different stages of the process. The South Yorkshire Planning Survey is open from now until Monday the 10th of March.
Equipped with these insights, the South Yorkshire Chambers will then be able to advocate for positive changes in the planning system while also sharing the findings with those partners that are best placed to make a difference.
Encouraging businesses to complete the Planning Survey, the chief executives for chambers of commerce covering Doncaster, Sheffield and Barnsley & Rotherham issued a joint statement: “The planning system is, of course, instrumental when it comes to helping firms of all shapes and sizes unlock their true potential. When it is working as intended, it plays a significant role in spurring on growth, encouraging investment, and making sure that exciting projects are able to get off the ground in a timely manner.
“Conversely, we know — from anecdotal conversations with our members — that the planning system can also conspire to slow projects down with a negative impact on economic growth
“In such economically turbulent times, when every metric used to measure business confidence is already dropping dramatically and investment intentions are at a concerning low, it’s therefore important that our planning system meets the needs of our private and voluntary sectors and predisposed towards encouraging sustainable development.
“With that said, we’d like to urge businesses to please spare just 10 minutes to complete our Planning Survey, so that we can get under the bonnet of this important issue. The information gleaned here will be invaluable, and as always with any our insight gathering activities, every last response counts.”
The Planning Survey has been sponsored by Clear Insurance Management and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
Co-Chair of the South Yorkshire Mayor’s Business Advisory Board, Tariq Shah, added: “A well-functioning planning system is fundamental to unlocking investment, driving regeneration, and ensuring sustainable growth across South Yorkshire. The insights gathered from this survey will provide invaluable evidence to help the Business Advisory Board understand the challenges businesses face and identify where improvements are needed.
“By working closely with our partners, we can advocate for a system that is more efficient, transparent, and supportive of the region’s economic ambitions. I strongly encourage businesses to take part—your feedback will directly inform the changes needed to create a more business-friendly planning environment.”
