WEST Devon Council's planning department has been criticised by a Tavistock developer frustrated by the delay in processing his planning application.

Charles Gray Property Holdings registered plans with the planning department on March 14 for outline permission to build six residential units for occupation by over 55s only at Annan, Down Park Drive, Tavistock. However, despite repeated attempts to contact the council, a date has yet to be set for the application to be considered by the planning committee, he said.

Planning guidelines state that after an application is registered there is a statutory three weeks where details are brought to public attention through the local press or site notices and a further five weeks of consideration before a decision is made by the planning committee. If a delay is foreseen, a planning officer should give written confirmation to the applicant or their agent to allow it to go beyond the eight-week date.

Michael Gray, a director of the property firm, said his frustration came after several attempts to contact officers met with no response and he had to resort to making a formal complaint.

The application had a decision 'target' date of May 6 but two months later the company is still waiting. The indecision, Mr Gray claims, is costing his company thousands of pounds.

His concern turned to anger when he read in the Times that an application by Tesco for a major retail site on the former Focus site at Plymouth Road was likely to go to the planning committee by September.

Mr Gray said: 'If this is the case, I cannot understand why one case can receive priority treatment over the other. We paid an application fee of £1,155 and expect a professional and equal service to reflect that fee.'

Mr Gray said that when he eventually did get a reply from the planning department he was told 'they were under-staffed and the workload was excessive.'

In a letter to the planning department, Mr Gray said: 'The knock-on effect of these delays is having a huge financial impact on our businesses, running into thousands of pounds.

'In this time of austerity, surely our priorities should be not only to save money but also to create growth at local level, which we believe these projects will deliver.

'However, we are finding it enormously frustrating dealing with an organisation that shows no urgency or concern about missing target dates, deadlines or communicating with its customers. The level of service you have provided to us so far, in our dealings with you, has been completely unacceptable.'

Mr Gray is also concerned over the length of time the planning department is taking over a second application by his company for a change of use of building to bathroom and kitchen outlet (retail) including external alterations at Unit 2, Crelake Industrial Estate.

Mr Gray approached his ward representative, Tavistock South Cllr Mandy Ewings.

She told the Times: 'I am disappointed in these difficult economic times that these two planning applications have not have been considered in a timely manner.

'Understandably, this has caused a developer unnecessary expense while waiting for the decisions to be made.'

A West Devon Borough Council spokesman said: 'Our aim is to deal with all planning applications as quickly as possible but we also have to be thorough.

'The applications highlighted by Charles Gray Property Holdings Ltd required some detailed work and discussions by a number of council officers which took time to complete. Regrettably, there was some delay, for which we apologise.

'We did update the appointed agent, Edward Persse, on June 20, 2013. Where an agent has been appointed, it is standard practice to communicate with them rather than the applicant.'