Andy Sommerville, Director at Search Acumen, comments:
“At the time, Q4 2019 felt particularly turbulent – with the prospect of a no deal Brexit and a pre-Christmas election purdah – but it now pales in comparison to the current UK lockdown.
“It is still important to recognise the underlying trends that are holding back the planning application process. Applications take far too long to process, with legacy technology and paper records rendering the due diligence process confusing and incomplete. The premium placed on urban land further compounds these pain points in the planning process.
“We echo the sentiments of the culture and digital minister Caroline Dinenage that harnessing technology and innovation is the best way to get ahead during this time of uncertainty – enabling us to look forward to building with confidence once the current shadows pass.”
