PLANNING REFORM –Where are we now?

London and Planning SeminarWednesday 9 November 2011

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The Government’s vision Freedom, Fairness and Responsibility

• Fundamental change in the relationship between citizens and the state.

• Individuals and communities have more power and responsibility.

• Freedom from top-down controls.

• Extending transparency to every area of public life.

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What we aim to achieve

Reform to achieve…

• Greater democratic and local control

• Rebalancing system in favour of sustainable development

• Delivering a simpler and more effective system

Delivering…

A plan-led system that empowers local people to shape their surroundings whilst encouraging the idea that development can positively benefit a community. A system that is positive, proactive, simple, less adversarial and free from bureaucratic barriers.

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Planning Reform Agenda

Community Right to Build

Neighbourhood Plans Local Plans

National Policy

Incentives

NPPFPresumption

Growth review

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Localism Bill

Decentralises power and responsibility to shape places

• Abolition of Regional Strategies• A new duty to cooperate – LAs must address cross

boundary issues in their plans• A new permissive regime of neighbourhood plans – that

must fit with local plans• CIL to become more of a local incentive – alongside the

New Homes Bonus• Abolition of the IPC and return of decision making on major

infrastructure to Ministers

Shift from central targets to localised incentives

Results in a much greater emphasis on local plans – the strategic plan

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Local authorities: Progress with core strategies

September 2010, 62 councils had adopted core strategies

September 2011, 125 councils have adopted core strategies, or been found sound

By September 2011 another 63 councils had submitted or published a draft plan

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Planning at Strategic level

Duty to co-operate in Bill

Encourage constructive, active and continuous dialogue between authorities, county councils and public bodies

Inform emerging policies and evidence gathering on cross boundary and strategic issues, including health, and between counties and districts – strategic working at local level

Joint working already happening – Bill will facilitate this further

Compliance will be tested at examination

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Planning at Local level

Local plans at centre of reform and plan-led system going forward

Simplified processes – reduce burden of reporting to centre

Increase accountability locally through reporting

Control of planning decisions to local councils and communities

Infrastructure Plans – including public health ( cycle paths etc)

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Give neighbourhoods far more ability to determine the shape of the places in which people live through ‘neighbourhood plans’

• Empower communities to take control

• Neighbourhood not LPA led.

• Light-touch process

• Inspire innovation and creativity

• Exploring ways of enabling small scale community development.

• Permissive regime

• Community well being

Planning at neighbourhood level

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National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

• Published 25 July, consultation ends on 17 October.

• Key part of our reforms to make the planning system less complex; more accessible; and promote sustainable growth.

• Mixed reaction so far:• For – CBI; HBF; BPF etc• Against – CPRE; RSPB; NT etc

• Number of consultation events covering NPPF and other key elements of our planning reforms scheduled for September

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Use Classes: The commitment

• To consult on proposals to provide permitted development rights for the change from commercial (B use classes) to residential (C3 use class), and extend the scope for conversion of space over shops

Consultation paper issued 8 April and closed 30 June----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Encourage greater use of local development orders to remove barriers to growth and redevelopment locally

Chief Planner letter issued 8 April -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Seek views of whether there are broader issues on how change of use can best be managed in the planning system to facilitate growth

Chief Planner letter issued 8 April and issues paper published on DCLG website 25 June, responses requested by 1 September-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Ministers considering responses received in deciding how to move forward

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What’s coming ….

• Neighbourhood Planning - draft regulations consultation

• CIL consultation - draft regulations to implement Bill reforms • Localism Bill - Royal Assent

• Final NPPF - Publication & outcome of consultation