Planning to succeed

GORDON Brown is planning a planning shake-up, and that can only be good news for the Grimsby-area.
A review into the problems faced by businesses when it comes to progression and development is now underway - and not before time will be the greeting along the Humber bank.
With the ports thriving, especially in Immingham with the massive riverside development by DFDS and ABP to expand roll-on/roll-off traffic, this area has the potential to attract major value-adding companies and key importers and exporters.
But to do so, speed is a necessity. Companies respond to market conditions, and while capital projects tend to be long-term investments, the decision is often dictated by the short-term situation.
Delays, deferrals and elongated time frames for plans to be passed simply do not help, and can only lead to companies looking elsewhere, even abroad.
Not the fault of the planners. They work to guidelines laid down to them. Criteria has to be met, all manner of environmental checks ticked and verified, to ensure England's green and pleasant land remains just that.
But the report into policy recommendations by Kate Barker, a leading economist with the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, will be fiercly welcomed here.
With the Eastgate Project between Immingham and Stallingborough carrying potential to open up vast swathes of land allowing for the enlarging the dock estate just entering the planning phase now, a careful eye will be kept on any changes by those involved in the ports partnerships here.
And any positive moves may help those like Auto-Trail in years to come.
The motorhome manufacturer on Eurparc is awaiting permission to expand on land adjacent to the current factory - surely something that would just require a rubber stamp?
It seems such a stamp no longer exists, but these are delicate matters, and the French money behind it should be seized while it can be. Otherwise the factories may well be built on the soon-to-be surplus vinyards that France is awash with after we changed our tastes to the new world wines!
We await with interest, but then developers are more than used to waiting.