An organisation which represents the interests of builders, including those who have taken plumbing courses and gas training, has welcomed the news that the government is to review the planning process in the UK.

Last week, the government said it was to launch a review which would look at how the planning process in the country could be made more efficient and straightforward.

Now, the Home Builders Federation (HBF) has said the move was widely welcomed by the industry and could help building professionals meet ambitious targets to build more new homes.

Stewart Baseley, HBF executive chairman, explained: "This review is important - the Government must get to grips once and for all with the planning system and make it fit for purpose for the 21st century.

"Despite all the efforts made to date, the current planning system still takes far too long to identify appropriate sites for development and is riddled with unnecessary delays.

"The result is that applications take an average of 15 months from initial application to the end of the process - three or four times as long as a generation ago - and insufficient land to meet society's housing needs is coming forward."