A new review of the planning applications process, seeking to make the system less bureaucratic and costly, has been launched. The Killian Pretty review makes 17 recommendations for improving planning which if followed through could prompt savings of almost £300 million a year. These savings would be made up of £150 million a year for applicants, £70 million a year in reductions in burdens on local planning authorities and statutory consultees and £70 million in costs to the UK economy of delays. Andrew Whitaker, planning director at the Home Builders Federation, welcomed the review: “This is an extremely important review and a recipe for common sense which should have far reaching implications on what has become an increasingly complex, costly and time consuming part of the development process.”<br><br>Whitaker said that the review requires significant changes to both the process and culture of planning. The government said it supports the broad thrust of the report and intends to publish an implementation plan early in the new year, setting out in more detail how it intends to respond to the proposals Housing and planning minister Margaret Beckett said: “I am determined that we do everything we can to tackle today’s economic challenges …