The government has approved the use of delegated powers by local authorities to ensure there is no delay in deciding planning applications.

The chief planner approved the controversial move in a circular issued yesterday in a bid to stave off development gridlock.

Steve Quartermain, a senior civil servant at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), told local planning departments to be innovative and use “all options available to you to continue your service”.

…