Progress in the Planning System?
Four years on from the overhaul of the Planning System in 2004, local authorities and the development industry are emerging from the fog of uncertainty that took several casualties in the early days. Familiarity is beginning to grow with Local Development Frameworks, the new process and the accompanying jargon. After a seemingly reluctant start by many planning authorities, where timetables set out in the mandatory Local Development Scheme slipped significantly, the pace is picking up with Core Strategies and Site Allocations documents coming through the system in a steady stream.
Here in the Midlands, planning hit the pause button in 2007 whilst the East Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) Examination in Public was held and the Report of the Panel produced. The latter was published in November and contained some radical proposals including abolishing the Green Belt around Nottingham, except the border to Derby. The New Year saw the release of the Preferred Options for the West Midlands RSS and the confirmation that the region was to meet even higher housing figures than previously proposed.
The progression of both of these regional strategies has been a catalyst for action at the local level where there is more certainty over housing and employment figures along with directions for growth. Amongst others, Lichfield District and Stafford Borough, two authorities that fell at the first hurdle early on under the new system, have released key LDF documents following extensive evidence gathering and public consultation having learnt valuable lessons from their failures.
The key messages now coming through at regional and local level are:
- Recentralisation in the conurbations and counteracting dispersed growth, eg putting a stop to ‘jumping the Green Belt’.
- Sustainability including access to jobs, education, retail and leisure by foot, bicycle or public transport and eco-friendly building.
- Deliverability of development, particularly providing a 5 year supply of housing land.
Whilst sustainability is nothing new and recentralisation is a repackaged form of regeneration, the emphasis on delivering development is a definite shift in focus and can be the key to bringing forward sites that may have not previously been considered to hold much potential. The new system has, however, set the bar higher for the promotion of sites. Not only are there numerous documents to monitor and comment upon, such as Core Strategy, Site Allocations and Town Centre Area Action Plans, there are also several stages of consultation (Issues and Options; Preferred Options; and Submission) which one cannot afford to miss.
Close liaison with local planning authorities is paramount and the Planning Team at Fisher German hold a database of current and forthcoming consultations for clients enabling preparation and submission of representations to best promote the site.
So into the fourth year of operation the new Planning System has established itself in both the public and private sector, although the ‘simplicity’ and ‘streamlining’ engendered by its introduction do not seem to have materialised. Nevertheless, progress is being made and there is undeniable encouragement from Gordon Brown that the roll out of houses remains high on the Government’s agenda. Although sustainability remains an underlying objective, deliverability is now the buzz word which could explain the progress that the system is making.
For further information contact Kay Davies at the Ashby office on 01530 410824.
- Ashby de la Zouch
- 01530 412821
- Banbury
- 01295 271 555
- Knutsford
- 01565 757970
- Market Harborough
- 01858 410 200
- Newark
- 01949 851815
- Southampton
- 02380 883150
- Stafford
- 01785 220 044
- Worcester
- 01905 453275
