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Title:
Planning White Paper
Date:
21 - 05 - 2007
Planning White Paper Seeks Quicker Decisions
Ruth Kelly’s Department published the much anticipated White Paper "Planning for a Sustainable Future" today, signalling another review of the planning system. The main objective is to speed up decision-making although some will claim that this is to be achieved at the expense of democracy.
The White Paper sets out the Government response to the Planning elements of both the Barker Review of Land Use Planning and The Eddington Transport Study and it is interesting to see that the Government are taking an holistic approach and seeking to embrace all development consent regimes (energy, transport, water, waste and planning) within this review.
The key elements of the White Papers planning reforms are considered by the Government to be:
• Ensuring the planning system continues to support vibrant town centres
• A better, quicker system to decide major infrastructure projects with enhanced community engagement and an improved level of expertise.
• Simplifying the local planning system for householders to make it far easier to make home improvement like extension and conservatories, where there is little or no impact on neighbours.
• Planning playing a bigger role in tackling climate change.
The changes proposed on retail and town centre development are designed to improve the focus upon town centre first as the location for retailing. Whilst the White Paper advises that the current need and impact tests are to be replaced with a new test focused upon town centres, there is scant detail as to what this 'new' test will comprise save for its town centre focus (sequential test) and promotion of competition to improve consumer choice.
The new retail test will come about through a review of PPS6 to include consultation with the industry and stakeholders and also having regard to the findings of the Competition Commission inquiry into the grocery market.
The proposals for fast track processing of major projects are only likely to be used rarely for commercial schemes. Energy proposals are expected to be the main beneficiary, and these will not be limited to nuclear power stations, despite the emphasis of commentary in the national press. Further detail is expected in Wednesday’s Energy White Paper.
The change introduced sought by the White Paper to SCI publicity requirements reflects feedback on the introduction of the new development plan regime, introduced by the 2004 Planning and Compensation Act.
The extension of householder permitted development entitlements is intended to release scarce resources for dealing with schemes of wider significance, but there will still be mechanisms for dispute resolution, and it remains to be seen whether this change will deliver the efficiency gains intended.
The Government appear to mean business on planning reform and sustainable futures. In addition to this White Paper, a number of other related Consultation Documents were released today including: Planning Performance Agreements, Planning Costs and Fees; Improving the Appeal Process in the Planning System; and changes to Permitted Development Rights for Householders.
GL Hearn will be monitoring the development of this major planning review and further bulletins will be issued at key stages of the process.
For questions and feedback on this bulletin, please contact Andrew Jackson (Retail Matters) on 020 7851 4912 or Michael Lee-Wright (Planning and Environmental Issues) on 020 7851 4927 or email: [andrew_jackson@glhearn.com]
This material should not be regarded as providing any specific advice. GL Hearn accepts no obligation to provide any advice or recommendations in respect of the information contained in this bulletin and accepts no fiduciary duties to the recipient in relation to this information.
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