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PLANNING REFORM IN ENGLAND

PLANNING REFORM IN ENGLAND. Tony Thompson MRTPI, ARICS, CMILT Planning Directorate, Department for Communities and Local Government, London. 4 July 2014. Key Reform O bj ec t i ves. Engaged communities. Positive approach & supporting growth. Improv ed performance.

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PLANNING REFORM IN ENGLAND

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  1. PLANNING REFORM IN ENGLAND Tony Thompson MRTPI, ARICS, CMILT Planning Directorate, Department for Communities and Local Government, London 4 July 2014

  2. Key Reform Objectives Engaged communities Positive approach & supporting growth Improved performance Simpler policy & procedures

  3. Overview of reforms Local Positive Simple NPPF and Guidance Review Localism Act Robust Evidence of need and 5 year land supply 1300 pages of policy down to less than 50 Duty to cooperate Regional Strategy revocation Presumption in favour of sustainable development Streamlined guidance Neighbourhood Planning Strong protections still in place Proportionate Effective Deregulation and Simplification Speeding up appeals Tackling LA poor performance Statutory consultees Growth and Infrastructure Act Award of costs Community Infrastructure Levy Use Class Order Information requirements Major Infrastructure Unblocking stalled sites Permitted development rights Section 106

  4. Key reforms National Planning Policy Framework & Guidance Providing a positive framework for sustainable growth Localised plan making Strengthening local engagement and buy in for development Streamlined decision making Simplifying the process from end to end A new consent regime for national infrastructure Ensuring a more efficient process for delivering key projects

  5. Division of responsibility • Central Government • Legislation (Primary and Secondary); and • Policy and Guidance. • Local Government • Plan making; and • Decision taking

  6. Overview of the planning system S of S call-in cases 10-20 National Policy and Guidance a Local Plan Neighbourhood Plans NDO (Optional) Planning Applications & Decisions (LAs) 426,000 OUTCOMES Yes No Plan Making SoS Recovered Appeals 200 Appeals & Decisions (PINS) 15,000 Decision taking

  7. National Planning Policy Framework & Guidance National Planning Policy Framework Key policy – presumption in favour of sustainable development • For decision-taking this means: • ● approving development proposals that accord with the development plan without delay; and • ● where the development plan is absent, silent or relevant policies are • out‑of‑date, granting permission unless: • – any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably • outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in this • Framework taken as a whole; or • – specific policies in this Framework indicate development should be • restricted

  8. Planning Practice Guidance Visit the site here: http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/

  9. Localised plan making Plan led approach remains the heart of planning system • Ensures community engagement and buy in • Sets levels of growth and development – housing and employment • Allocates land for new development • Defines specific areas of protection – eg Green Belt, conservation areas, flood risk management areas • Establishes principles for development eg design, density energy efficiency , sustainable waste and transport • Includes Proposals Map

  10. Progress on getting Local Plans in place

  11. Neighbourhood Planning Builds on long tradition of community planning and existing requirements to consult Proportionate & robust: real power & safeguards Set within a wider strategic context Pro-growth: enabling community supported development Additional, not replacing existing planning tools Cultural change and power shift

  12. Thame Neighbourhood Plan • 1st to allocate sites for new homes and businesses • 76% ‘yes’ vote • 40% turnout • 775 new homes • New transport links • Supporting high streets

  13. Does it need permission? Pre-applicationstage Application stage Post-application Taken wholly or partially out of the system: Offices to residential Residential / commercial extensions Agricultural building conversions Broadband equipment State-funded schools Flats over shops Temporary uses Legal requirement for information requested to be reasonable Local lists must be updated every 2 years Cut design & access statement requirements Simpler requirements at ‘outline’ stage Ability to appeal against non-validation Guidance on more proportionate PPAs Planning guarantee (fee refund if no decision in 26 weeks) Designation of under-performing authorities Scrapped need to give reasons for approval Replaced by need to demonstrate positive approach Faster planning appeals Strengthened awards of costs at appeal Penfold – rationalisation of related consents 13 week limit for related consent decisions Underpinned by: NPPF (including presumption in favour & stronger approach to housing land); wholesale review of guidance; inflation-related fee increase for planning authorities; improvement plans for stat cons Streamlined decision taking

  14. Speed of planning decisions

  15. Wider impacts of reforms • Approval of planning applications – 88% a ten year high • 175,000 residential units approved 2013 - 50% higher than the figure approved in 2011 and pace of consents remains high Q1 2014 • Annual housing starts totalled 122,590 in 12 months to December 2013 – 23% higher than previous year • Permitted development changes stimulating extra activity • Fewer developers citing planning as a delay

  16. A new consent regime for national infrastructure Energy Transport Water Wastewater Waste

  17. Key steps inprocess The application process the six steps The Inspectorate has 28 days to decide whether the application meets the required standards to proceed to examination including whether the Interested parties make their detailed comments. They can request to speak at public hearings. The Inspectorate has 6 months to carry out the examination There is an opportunity for legal challenge adequate. Pre-Application Acceptance Pre-Examination Examination Decision PostDecision relevant Secretary of State will be issued by the Inspectorate within 3 months of the close of the examination. The Secretary of State then has a further 3 months to issue a decision on the proposal. The promoter makes information available in the local media and in public places near the location of the proposed project. The developer at this point will be consulting on their proposal and will still be shaping their project. Consultation will influence the final submission. Where feedback cannot be taking on board the developer must explain why this is the case. this stage, people who register will be informed of progress and will be given further opportunities to put their case. Inspectors will hold a preliminary meeting and set the timetable for examination.

  18. Theregime isworking-Hinkley PointC • National Policy Statement • Site identified in Nuclear Power Generation NPS • Frontloading • Pre-application consultation Nov 2009 to Aug 2011. • EDF engaged over 6500 stakeholders • Predominantly written representations • Kept to statutory timescale • Application submitted Nov 2011 • Examination March to Sep 2012 • Decision March 2013

  19. Email: tony thompson@communities.gsi.gov.uk Telephone: +44(0)303 444 1723

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