WORCESTER planners have been hitting Government targets for the length of time taking to determine applications

City planning officer Vicky Bilton said 100 per cent of the applications determined as major and received between October and December 2005 had been dealt with in less than the required 13 weeks. And this was despite being down on staffing levels.

Applications included plans for Diglis Basin, the former Wescol Factory in Brickfields Road and land at South Street.

Worcester City Council was previously one of several planning authorities which were 'subject to standards' over the speed of processing major applications.

The latest figures also show planners have been hitting targets for dealing with other applications and that none of the six planning appeals it dealt with were upheld.

They come as the planning department has been hit by staff shortages, with another planning officer having been recruited in the last couple of weeks and a further assistant planning officer due to start at a date to be confirmed. The matter was discussed at a meeting of the council's planning committee on Thursday.

The report presented stated that it was vital the development control team was now fully staffed as the staff shortages had had a significant implication on the workload of existing officers.

Committee chairman Councillor Robert Rowden said: "I think this is fantastic news and I congratulate all of the officers who are doing a wonderful job in what is often very difficult times."