Dorset Council is experiencing delays with processing planning applications.

The authority reports that last month planning applications rose in every English region compared to July 2020 and February had a 25 per cent increase in applications. Throughout 2020 there was a 36 per cent increase in the number of applications, compared to 2019, which has led to a huge demand on Dorset Council's planning services.

When the council formed in April 2019 from district, borough and county councils, there were six different planning teams working on different systems. Work started on moving these teams into one and to start transferring 47 years of records held by each area onto a new system.

Now, four out of the six areas have been transferred, with the next planned for early October.

Efficiencies have also been made along the way, such as slimming down services by not sending out neighbour letters, changing the way notices are published and automating lists for parish councillors, so officers can focus on planning applications.

Councillor David Walsh, Dorset Council's portfolio holder for planning, said: "We ask residents to bear with us, we know it is frustrating, but these delays are being felt across the country and it's out of our control.

"It is incredibly busy and we are working on all applications in date order. So, I ask for people not to chase their application, by phone or email. Doing this only takes up officer time that could be spent on progressing work.

"We have kept fellow councillors, town and parish councils and property agents informed of the situation by newsletters and emails and will continue to keep them up to date."

Another area that has seen a huge increase in demand is land searches and charges. The stamp duty holiday has encouraged people to move to a new home, which has meant that the number of searches needed to be carried out have almost doubled.

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