A COUNCIL has won national recognition for having one of the best planning web pages.

In the third annual Government survey, commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the plaudit was won by Chester-le-Street District Council.

With this recognition comes an increased proportion of Planning Delivery Grant, which aims to reward local planning authorities performing to a high level and meeting Government targets.

A maximum score of 21 points has been achieved through a number of improvements to the planning service, including upgrading the council's website.

A council spokesman said: "The results of the survey show that Chester-le-Street achieved the top mark, an improvement on the last survey of September 2004 and placing us joint top nationally and in the North-East region.

"Exciting developments over the past 12 months have included providing a web-based public access service, which enables members of the public to view planning applications and drawings, via the council's website, from the comfort of their own home at any time.

"This has built on services already available including the facility to submit planning and building regulations applications online - through the Planning Portal and Submit-a-Plan - or to view the adopted Chester-le-Street Local Plan and Proposals Map interactively."

It is also possible to view the decisions made on all planning applications received by the council.

Planning committee chairman Councillor Keith Davidson said: "I am delighted with this result which puts us in the top 100 of all councils nationally for addressing the needs of those with an interest in planning applications and decisions.

"The council would like to see greater use made of this easy-to-access facility through the council's website."

To learn more, see www.chester-le-street.gov.uk