Corporate report: Environment Agency's planning consultation response timeliness

This report shows our performance as a consultee in the spatial planning system in England. We are required to report annually to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The report measures our performance against our statutory duty to respond within 21 days, or such other period as may be agreed in writing, to:

Responding to local authorities within 21 days is one of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra’s) measures of success for excellent delivery. It remains one of our corporate priorities.

The Environment Agency was established with a clear dual purpose to:

These two goals are not in competition. Environmental recovery requires economic investment, and lasting economic growth can only be achieved through a healthy, resilient environment.

We do not need to choose between a healthy environment and a strong economy. One cannot exist without the other. As a growth and infrastructure delivery body, we deliver our own infrastructure and enable others to deliver theirs.

Responding in a timely way to pre-application enquiries and planning consultations is one of the ways in which we help to support sustainable growth. We also do this through:

We aim to provide a good level of service to our customers by prioritising planning proposals that: