Be First (on behalf of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham)
The Be First Statutory Planning Team have had a remarkable year, with achievements including a fourth consecutive year with the best performance statistics for on time decisions nationally and the adoption of one of the country's most up to date Local Plans. The team has established the borough as a place where the planning process enables the delivery of high-quality, sustainable development, rather than constrains it, and has set a benchmark for how a modern development management service can operate.