AN ultimatum has been issued over a planning application which has gone more than two years without a decision.

The change of use application for Christchurch Emporium is still on the table more than two years after it was submitted to Christchurch council.

And it will not be decided at September's planning committee either, due to "outstanding information".

This reason has been given numerous times over the past few months in relation to the delay over whether to approve or refuse permission.

Back in May the plans were withdrawn from the planning committee agenda at the eleventh hour, after the authority said there was too little information to proceed.

It has not resurfaced since.

Lynda King, development management manager, said: “The Christchurch Emporium application will not feature at planning committee this month as we are still awaiting outstanding information.

"However, we have now advised the agent, acting on behalf of the Christchurch Emporium, that we will be considering the application at the planning committee in October, with or without the outstanding information we have requested."

It comes as the council recently agreed to controversial changes to the planning rules, which increased the number of individual letters or signatures needed to take an application to committee.

During the debate on this issue, Ms King said these proposals were intended to make decision making "more time efficient."

Christchurch council's planning department has come under fire recently, with a plan put in place to try and improve the situation.

It has been criticised for delays due to software issues, staff problems and a large number of applications.

The application for the former Mostyn's Factory is to change the use to include a shop and retail warehouse, cafe, office and conference facilities.

In May, the scheme was recommended for approval, but only for two years.