Experienced users report savings of over £120 on average for every application while the savings for major applications run into several hundreds of pounds, or even thousands, depending on the size and nature of the application.
Submitting online avoids the time and costs of creating, copying, processing, packaging and transporting paper.
More than 75 per cent of local planning authorities (LPAs) in England and Wales are fully integrated with the Planning Portal, which means that applications submitted to them via the Portal are instantly transferred directly to their back-office systems. The remaining LPAs manually download their applications from the Portal once, twice or more each working day.
Regardless of their level of integration LPAs report that applications submitted via the Portal are quicker and easier to validate and process because the Portal ensures all elements of each application are complete, are in the correct format and meet each LPA’s individual application requirements. This minimises delays caused by validation issues and leads to more consistent and timely planning decisions.
Reducing waste and CO² emissions doesn’t just help the environment - it saves businesses money too.
More and more organisations are linking Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes with competitiveness. Details of businesses' carbon management strategies and carbon savings achieved are included in CSR statements.
These are increasingly being published in annual reports and used in marketing material, website content and public relations to demonstrate corporate commitment to reducing CO² emissions.
Find out more about planning for a greener future.
Work out your CO² saving using our Carbon Calculator.
Planning professionals who use the Portal's Online Application Service are asked to consider signing the Planning Portal’s Low Carbon Pledge to confirm their commitment to maximise CO² savings by submitting all planning applications online.
Signatories are awarded a certificate for display on their premises and are entitled to make full use of the 'Planning for a Greener future' logo on their website and marketing material.
Signatories
View a searchable listing of planning professionals (organisations and individuals) who have signed the Planning Portal's Low Carbon Pledge (Excel spreadsheet).
Only professionals who have made the commitment to reduce their carbon emissions by submitting planning applications online are included. Search options allow their details to be viewed in several ways
If you would like more information on how easy it is to sign the Carbon Pledge or more details on the benefits of doing so please e-mail Stuart Mockford.
