The council claims that applications are now being validated within a few days of receipt following the planning transformation project. This brought together the data from five former district councils onto one planning database.

Cllr David Walsh, Dorset Council portfolio holder for planning, said: “Clearing the validation backlog has been a huge task and well done to all concerned. But this means that a large wave of applications must go through the planning process.

“Our planning officers now have the huge task of assessing all the applications, and there will still be some delays in issuing decisions. Please bear with us while our team works hard to assess these applications and issue decisions.”

The transformation work continues, with a final phase of migration work due to be completed in the New Year.

The council will continue to develop its system and improve its online register.