Local e-planning services get cash boost

Government hands out £500,000 for innovative projects...

The government has given a £500,000 cash boost for innovative projects that help develop electronic planning services for local authorities.

The cash has been given to the Planning and Regulatory Services Online National Project (Parsol), which is led by Wandsworth Borough Council and supports schemes to implement e-planning services.

The funding will support Parsol projects in the 2005/2006 financial year including plans to develop XML schemes for local development framework documents.

Jim Fitzpatrick, e-government minister, said innovative services are key to transforming the planning system.

He said in a statement: "The funding will enable local authorities, through the Parsol Planning Project, to continuing making the vision of e-enabled planning services a reality."

Parsol will work with the government's Planning Portal website to provide information and guidance on new projects.

Martin Howell, senior planner at Wandsworth Borough Council and Parsol planning chair, said in a statement: "We believe the Parsol products can make a significant contribution to the delivery of faster, more effective and more efficient local authority planning services."