Redrow boss hits out at planning red tape

The founder of housebuilder Redrow hit out at the burden of council red-tape yesterday after revealing that his firm now spends more money on dealing with the 'comical' planning system than it does on bricks.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Feb 2010, 22:05 BST
Updated 25th Feb 2010, 22:05 BST

Redrow executive chairman Steve Morgan, who last year returned to the helm of the firm he set up in 1974, said he was dismayed "by the sheer levels of bureaucracy and red tape that have crept into the planning system".

He said the length of time required to secure planning approval had impacted on the company's launch of its New Heritage Collection, which it hopes will place traditional family housing back at the forefront of its range.

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Mr Morgan, the owner of Wolverhampton Wanderers, added: "The list of documents required to accompany planning applications verges on the comical.

"Even the simplest of planning applications frequently takes many months to secure approval and indeed there are many examples where the months turn into years. It is reflective of the system that Redrow, as one of the UK's largest home build-ers, now spends more money on planning and planning-related fees than it does on bricks."

His comments came as Redrow announced a 25 per cent rise in half-year revenues to 187.2m and said pre-tax losses reduced by 81 per cent to 8.7m in the six months to December 31.

Assisted by the recent recovery in the housing market, Redrow said

legal completions rose by 21.5 per cent to 1,266.