Planners in Swindon have been named and shamed for taking too long to process applications for major developments.

The council's planning department features in a list of 90 authorities that have fallen below expected standards.

The Government originally set the borough a target to determine 60 per cent of all major applications those proposing the development of 10 or more houses within 13 weeks.

But in the period from April 2003 to the end of June this year Swindon Council completed only 38 per cent within the time limit. It has now been set a lower target of 52 per cent.

The council is performing better at minor applications those between one and 10 houses having determined 60 per cent within eight weeks against a Government target of 65 per cent. A lower target of 58 per cent has been set.

Coun Lisa Hawkes, chairwoman of the planning committee, said Swin-don's failure to meet the government's target for major applications had not come as a surprise.

"Major applications are far more complicated and there can often be delays during negotiations with developers about legal agreements," she said.

"Swindon is special because our big applications are extremely big."

"Other authorities will see 100 houses as a major application while we are dealing with thousands."

The Front Garden development, numbering 4,500 homes, took well over 12 months to complete, while the Northern Development is set to reach 10,000 houses.