Replacing planning appeals with alternative dispute resolution (ADR) could help save businesses and councils £300m a year, the government claimed this week.

The proposals, published by the Communities and Local Government department, call for a ‘more proportionate’ planning system, removing nearly 40% of minor non-residential developments from the need to apply for full planning permission.

Authors Joanna Killian, chief executive of Essex County Council, and David Pretty, former chief executive of Barratt Developments, propose encouraging alternative dispute resolution throughout the planning process, including as an alternative to an appeal.

Other ideas include using the web to improve the quality of advice available to users of the planning system.

David Brock, chair of the Law Society’s planning committee, said the report had accepted several proposals made by the Society, but added that ADR might not be suitable for large developments.

According to the report, 10% of all major developments in Britain are delayed by a year or more in the planning process. A World Bank study found that the UK’s planning system ranks 61st in the world for ease of use.

The government welcomed the ‘broad thrust’ of the report.