Bolton will be aiming to take a stronger line on “substandard” planning bids in an attempt to cut a huge backlog of open cases.

This comes after open planning cases peaked at around 1,200 across Bolton after a large backlog built up during the Covid pandemic.

This has now been cut to just 350 cases and council officials say they hope a new approach that refuses plans that need significant changes outright will help cut this further.

Council deputy leader Cllr Akhtar Zaman said: “These changes bring us in line with some other councils, who are already taking a much stronger line on rejecting substandard planning applications and this will allow other applications to be considered faster.

“The pre-application service will be a useful tool for agents and developers to prepare and submit their applications to us and I would encourage them to use it.

Bolton Council's planning department has dealt with 100s of casesBolton Council's planning department has dealt with 100s of cases (Image: Newsquest)

“A more efficient system will greatly benefit our residents and businesses who are keen to secure planning permission and get on with development or renovation work.”

Council officials say that most of the plans they receive can be approved quickly but some fall well below standards expected by national and local planning guidelines.

They have found that negotiating with people putting the plans in to improve them has a knock-on effect on the time it takes them to process other applications.

Planning committee chair Cllr John Walsh says that plans that have no prospect of being approved have often been time consuming for his fellow members and for officers.

He said: "How often have we been in committee and seen for example plans for dormer extensions that are just never going to be acceptable?"

He added: "If it can save time, if it can make the process more efficient and can save officers' time then that has got to be an improvement to the process."

The new system that the council is introducing will mean that any plans that need “significant alteration” will be refused outright.

They say that this will allow the planning department to focus more closely on applications that meet policy requirements, and which can be determined more quickly with limited intervention.

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Applications that meet the necessary policy requirement will then be given the green light or otherwise quicker.

Alongside these changes, the council is also introducing a new pre-application service which they hope will also help to streamline the process.

They say will give applicants the opportunity to ask questions, seek advice and fully understand the correct process before they formally submit.

Council officials already held a face-to-face meeting with local planning agents to explain the new approaches.