<p>Economist Kate Barker’s interim review of planning, which evaluated the outcomes of the current system with regard to economic growth and productivity, concluded that there is no need for “radical reform.”</p> <p>The new system, Barker advised, is still bedding down and the focus of final recommendations will be on “refining” it. But Barker does comment that there are continuing concerns about the planning system’s level of complexity and development control delays, which can hold back desirable economic investment. She also noted there are too few financial incentives for local authorities to adopt a “growth agenda.”</p> <p>The HBF welcomed the report’s findings. Executive chairman Stewart Baseley said: “There is a pressing need for the planning system to become more responsive and efficient, not least with regards to housing.”George Osborne, shadow chancellor for the Conservatives, said the report showed that the government’s “top-down, regionally driven approach”was not working. “We propose a different approach that devolves power to local communities and gives them an incentive to promote the right sort of environmentally sustainable development.”</p><b> <p>NEXT KEY DATE: Kate Barker’s final report will be published with the pre-Budget report in November or December</p></b>