NEW planning guidelines will help spark North-East economic growth and should be welcomed, one of the region’s business organisations has said.

The North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) has urged councils to get behind the planning policy, which aims to make the process quicker and easier for developments.

The region has endured a six per cent fall in local government spending, resulting in a 44 per cent cut to regional planning and development budgets.

Ross Smith, policy director at the NECC, said the region had the lowest land costs and energy prices in the country, as well as resources and low congestion which should have companies flocking to the North-East, but planning policy restrictions were hampering development.

“We must be pro-development.

I don’t mean approve anything, but obstacles must be removed so businesses can find and develop appropriate sites,” said Mr Smith.

“As a region, we must focus on proactive planning and see the role of planning as much more than a development control policeman.”