THE time taken to determine planning applications at Torfaen council has increased by 37 per cent since 2015/16.

Torfaen County Borough Council took 92 days on average last year to either permit or refuse planning applications, compared to 67 days in 2015/16. In 2016/17 it was 73 days and 2017/18 it was 83 days.

This is despite the council receiving fewer applications in 2019 than the past five years. In 2019 the council received 652 planning applications compared with 678 in 2018, 775 in 2017, 688 in 2016 and 764 in 2015.

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The council currently has 224 applications yet to be determined, all of which are available to view on the council’s planning portal.

A Torfaen council spokesman said: “Welsh Government produce the annual Planning Performance Framework which contains a suite of measures for all planning authorities across Wales.

“Over the last few years we have determined an increasing number of applications and over the same period reduced the number of live applications.

“Some of these live applications are older and are, therefore, affecting the average time it takes to deal with applications.

“The Council is approving over 90% of applications which demonstrates a considerable amount of negotiating to enable good development with 87% of all applications are being determined in time.”