Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council advises residents, applicants and agents that its planning software system is unavailable from 25 June until 8 July, while a new system is introduced.
During this period, the Council will continue to process planning applications, but the service will be operating at a reduced capacity.
The upgrade forms part of the Council’s ongoing work to improve services and modernise the tools available to employees.
Once delivered, the new planning software system will work more efficiently, supporting a smoother process for handling planning information and applications.
Members of the public are asked for their patience while the changes are put in place.
Where possible, applicants may wish to consider delaying the submission of planning applications until after 8 July, when the new planning software system is expected to be fully available and applications will be processed as normal.
During the period of interruption, we will be prioritising urgent applications to ensure statutory processing timelines are met.
As well as helping officers work more efficiently, the planning software system will also provide improvements for residents and applicants.
It will streamline communication between applicants, agents, and consultees, helping to make the planning service more responsive.
It will also deliver a public portal, making planning information more accessible for the public providing greater transparency and convenience for users.
Cllr Mike Bannister, Deputy Leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Enabling Services and Communities, said:
"We recognise that residents and applicants have experienced frustrations with delays in the planning process, and as a new administration we are determined to address these issues and make sure our systems are fit for purpose.
"This upgrade is an important step forward in modernising how planning applications are handled and ensuring we have the tools in place to deal more effectively with the growing demands being placed on the service.
"We apologise for the short-term disruption while this work is carried out, but we are taking action to improve the system and get planning services operating more efficiently for the future.
"We believe this new software will be a major step forward in helping is deliver the faster and more effective planning service that residents rightly expect."
The Council would like to thank everyone for their understanding while we carry out this work and appreciate the cooperation of the public while these improvements are delivered.