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<p>The department does not hold data on the number of planning officers who are currently
employed, on either full-time or part-time bases. It therefore has no reliable evidence
base from which to estimate the extra number needed for building an average of 300,000
homes in England per year.</p><p>The department has supported local planning authorities
by introducing a 20 per cent increase in planning application fees and providing £
15.8 million through the Planning Delivery Fund in order to ensure that local planning
authorities have the resources and capacity they need.</p><p>It also provides support
for the Royal Town Planning Institute Future Planners bursary scheme, which has run
since 2015/16 and supports students on accredited postgraduate conversion degrees
to pursue a career in planning. The department recently announced its continuing financial
support for the scheme over the next three financial years, 2017/18 to 2019/20.</p>
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