Laying the Foundations: Government Propositions for the Planning System
The planning system, to be effective, must be streamlined, efficient, objective and inclusive. A difficult balance to achieve, particularly as development is such an emotive subject.
Clear organisation and firm guidelines are required to ensure it is properly implemented and that all involved understand the process.
Government proposes increased localisation
It is therefore somewhat unnerving, or at least confusing, that a major emphasis of the government’s planning proposal in Laying the Foundations: A Housing Strategy for England is an increased focus on the input of local communities.
In Chapter 2 of the document ‘Increasing supply: more homes, stable growth’ the government calls for:
- Locally planned large scale development
- Local Development Orders
- Localism Act
- Neighbourhood Planning
- Community–led planning and design
- Community right to build
- Community Infrastructure Levy
- Community Right to reclaim land
Risks of prioritising local involvement
Development is a sensitive issue and certain aspects can be highly subjective. Although some would point to successful projects that defy this, the potential for development does not exist at the whim of local communities. We feel that any legislative system that relies on locally elected representatives to contribute and ultimately determine a debate about development is a compromised system.
There has to be a structure for communities to work towards. Indeed, it already exists. It is called the Development Plan and the community proposals must be broadly in line with its contents. The Development Plan is prepared at a district level and adopted into policy. It must follow the guidance of the National Planning Policy Framework, which is set at a national level.
How should the planners proceed?
The planning system should abandon the inspirational in favour of the pragmatic. Unless the government is prepared to extend its Design Council funding to allow every community group access to professional advice and counselling over their proposals for development, then the scope for alteration is limited. For the short term, the Planning Inspectorate should be steeling itself for a deluge of appeals.
Want to know more about the planning system and how it might affect your scheme or development? Feel free to get in touch with us.
