Smart planners are simply champion

Bury Council’s planning department has won Government acclaim for the way it uses the internet to help the public.

Its online presence, effectively a digital ‘one stop shop’ for all planning matters, has been awarded Smarter Planning Champion status.

Councillor Sandra Walmsley, cabinet member for resource and regulation, said: “Smarter planning is about the public being able to access information about local planning matters at any time of day or night, whether to view planning applications and make comments on them, or having their say on
council plans for the future development of Bury.

“Residents can also find out if they need planning permission for something, and how to get it, and to report problems. Even if you don’t have a computer at home, you can use a computer at your local library, which saves having to make a journey into the centre of Bury and also saves money on paper forms and postage. I congratulate the team on achieving Champion status.”

Bury’s planning portal is at: http://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2412

ENDS

Press release issued: 20 June 2014.