THE City of Fremantle has decided to approve building licenses independently from planning approvals starting March 1, in a bid to improve turnaround times. Fremantle principal building surveyor Rodney Byl said council’s decision to reform the process would help clarify the City of Fremantle’s role, while eliminating unnecessary red tape. “Traditionally, building licenses were only approved where a valid planning approval existed and relevant conditions had been met,” he said. “This has been a cause of confusion and delay and an unfortunate impost on applicants who maintain consistency between their planning and building license applications.” Under the new arrangements, applicants will still be required to comply with any planning requirements, irrespective of whether these have been shown on the building license application. Council has recommended applicants ensure their identical plans and subsequent amendments are submitted for both approvals, and make sure the building license documentation is consistent with the planning approval before construction begins.