Latest figures show that Plymouth's planning service dealt with the same number of major developments as Birmingham.

The city determined 108 major planning applications in the last year and, in the latest quarter, achieved the same number as England's second city and more than all the London boroughs. As a result, the Council's Planning Committee has approved development worth £615 million to the local economy.

Latest figures for the end of the financial year figures reveal city planners reach and surpass all the nationally-set targets for ensuring planning applications are processed as speedily as possible. Sixty per cent of major applications were processed in 13 weeks, 77 per cent of minor applications processed within eight weeks and 82 per cent of other planning applications sorted within eight weeks.

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Paul Barnard, Assistant Director for Development and Regeneration (Planning Services) said: "It is a huge achievement to have dealt with over 100 major applications and 1,221 applications throughout the year.

"It is a testament to the hard work of the planning officers and the work of all the members of the Planning Committee. During last year, planning applications rose by 11 per cent, despite the recession and we saw several big schemes, important new infrastructure and community projects be approved.

"We wanted our market recovery action plan to send out a signal that Plymouth was open for business and it is clear that developers are every bit as confident in the future of the city as we are."

The Council launched its market recovery action plan in October 2008 to boost the local property market. Developers put forward 37 sites for the Council to consider and 16 were accepted under the action plan. They include Shepherd's Wharf in Sutton Harbour, Oceanique in the Crescent, the Cattle Market in Plympton and Lidl in Union Street.

The recovery action plan had a positive effect and has been responsible for securing £133 million development on 10 sites.

(CD/NS)