SWEEPING changes are underway at Dorset Council's planning department in response to a sharp rise in applications.

The authority currently has an eight week backlog for validating new planning applications.

Council officials say one of the unexpected consequences of the pandemic has been a 'boom' in the construction industry and in DIY projects.

As a consequence, the council has seen a large rise in the number of planning applications received – with an average of 376 applications a month from January 2019 to December 2020.

Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council portfolio holder for planning, said: “We are seeing a huge increase in workload and we are still working within Covid restrictions.

"Most of our planning teams continue to work from home which has its own challenges.

"Everyone has been working incredibly hard in very trying circumstances, but we are using every opportunity to make our processes better.”

Planning chiefs say they will be doing 'a number of things' to manage the increase in business. These include:

• Planning officers will no longer visit every site to assess applications and if possible will make assessments using a 'desk-based approach'

• More staff are being recruited to fill vacancies and to help cope with the extra workload

• The authority is encouraging parish and town councils to respond to applications through an online register instead of emails

• From July 1, neighbour notification letters for planning applications will be scrapped - unless specifically required - and those making planning applications will be asked to put up their own site notices

• Other major changes will see the council introduce a new single planning software system, applicants encouraged to use a 'pre-application advice service' and only one set of amended plans allowed to be made for each application to 'lead to more efficiency'

Between January 2019 and December 2020, the council received 9,022 planning applications - an average of 376 applications per month.

This year from January to the end of April, the council received 1,971 applications - an extra 383 applications compared to the same period in 2020.

And in March this year 482 applications were decided upon, which is higher than any month in the last two years.