Simplified Planning Zones: Progress and Procedures

The simplified planning regime of an SPZ (Simplified Planning Zone) was modelled to some extent on the earlier Enterprise Zone concept and is meant to reduce public sector procedures faced by the private sector. Since legislation came into operation in Autumn 1987 only three schemes had so far been adopted as at April 1990, although more were in preparation. This report is the first stage in Arup Economic Consultants’ commissioned research into SPZs. It examines the take-up of SPZs and assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of the procedures for their establishment.