Fifty-six councils have met or exceeded government planning targets and will be removed from the government’s poor performance list.

National targets for deciding planning applications in a timely fashion are now being met by 75 per cent of councils (277 authorities).

This compares to just six per cent five years ago.

Authorities to have reached the target include councils in Birmingham, Bradford, Harrogate, Hackney and the Yorkshire Dales.

Minister Baroness Andrews said: "I congratulate those councils who have stepped up to the challenge and improved their performance.

"Across the board, we are seeing a majority of planning authorities raising their game to deliver a fast and efficient service for the whole community. We are committed to helping councils improve further and will be working directly with the remaining underperformers to push them forward over the coming year", she added.

Underperforming authorities were set performance targets that had to be met within a year, with professional support provided through the Planning Advisory Service.