More than 90 per cent of planning applications received by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority  were approved in the last financial year, according to latest figures.

The authority made formal decisions on 503 applications of which 470 – 93 per cent – were approved. Thirty three applications were refused. The figures, which were reported to the planning committee, show that every application involving agricultural buildings or renewable energy was approved – as were 91 per cent of business applications.

Chris Armitage, member champion for development management, said: “One of the authority’s main jobs is to identify opportunities for development that will make the national park a high-quality place in which to live and work, as well as improving the experience for visitors.

“We also want to make sure that developments do not conflict with the stunning landscapes and fragile ecology of the National Park. So the impact of every application has to be carefully weighed up. But these figures clearly show that, contrary to the perceptions of some, the authority is not in the business of saying ‘no’ to development.”

The report also shows that the authority exceeded all the Government’s targets for dealing with planning applications in a timely manner. Sixty six per cent of minor applications and 81 per cent of other applications were determined within eight weeks, while 71 per cent of major applications were determined within 13 weeks.

Of the 33 applications refused by the authority, 14 went to appeal, six were dismissed and two withdrawn.