Welsh and English Planning Systems

1. NAAONBPLANNING WORKSHOP31st January 2007 AONB Management Plans and their impact on Development Control decisionsAlun Morgan OwenIsle of Anglesey’s Countryside and AONB Officer

2. Welsh and English Planning Systems • Wales:Evolutionary: Reforms of the previous system From UDP to Local Development Plan (one document) – Welsh Spatial Plan gives direction to LDP Planning Policy Wales (PPW) one document backed up by Technical Advice Notes (TAN) • England:Revolutionary: Almost complete overhaul of previous system From mixture of Structure Plans, Local Plans, UDP > Local Development Framework (LDF) set of documents that can be changed in isolation from each other Planning Policy Statements (PPS)

3. SCOPE OF PRESENTATION • Introduction – Reasons for the research • Research aims • Scope of research • Response • Analysis • Recommendations • Completing the circle • A word of caution • Photos – Isle of Anglesey AONB • Discussion / Questions

4. Introduction – Reasons for the research • MSc Environmental Planning - part-time 3 year course at Liverpool John Moores University • ‘Local need’ - Making the connection with development control • Subject interest

5. Aim of the Dissertation / Research • To determine the relationship, contribution and importance of AONB Management Plans in Development Control decisions within and adjoining AONBs in England and Wales

6. Scope of research area

7. Response • 40 AONBs contacted in England and Wales. • 40 AONBs responded to questionnaire. • Survey backed up by specific telephone calls and e-mail. • 12 week research period – Summer 2005 • Thank you again for your co-operation.

8. ANALYSIS

9. Is the AONB Officer or equivalent consulted on planning applications within and adjoining the AONB?

10. Follow up question enquired about the number of consultations as a percentage of planning applications received – averaged over the last five years. • In general inconclusive data for the research • Lack of data • Source of data - LPA - resource implications

11. Are the JAC or equivalent consulted on planning applications within the AONB and adjoining the AONB?

12. Follow up question enquired about the number of consultations as a percentage of planning applications received – averaged over the last five years. • In general inconclusive data for the research • Time restraints to respond • Lack of data • Source of data – LPA - resource implications

13. Weekly Planning List • Very few AONBs with separate AONB weekly planning lists. • Management Information Systems (MIS) software - filters specific applications within the AONB (ref. Anglesey AONB)

14. Planning Protocol

15. AONB Management Plan consultation period – public’s response to the relationship between Planning / Development Control and the AONB

16. Member of internal development team to discuss pre-planning applications

17. AONB Management Plan policies taken into account by DC in determining planning applications (within the AONB) • Policies / objectives • Examples from: Quantock Hills, Malvern Hills, Wye Valley, North Wessex Downs, Mendip Hills, Solway Coast, North Pennines, South Devon, Clwydian Range, Dorset, East Hampshire Demonstrated that the AONB Management Plan through the AONB Officer or equivalent can have influence on planning decisions at levels of development control officer, planning committee and planning appeal.

18. AONB Management Plan policies taken into account by DC in determining planning applications (land adjoining the AONB) • Policies / objectives • Examples from Quantock Hills, Tamar Valley, Wye Valley

19. Review of AONB Management Plan in line with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 • Better opportunity to relate AONB Management Plan policies to the LDP/LDF • Potential for specific sections to be adopted as SPD • Spatial document in its own right – greater link to LDP/LDF

20. Development pressures within the AONB(Adapted from Shropshire Hills AONB questionnaire 1996)

21. Development pressures adjoining the AONB

22. Regional Analysiswithin the AONB – next 10 years • Regional: RDA – England; Wales • AONBs do not fit snugly within RDA boundaries eg Cotswolds AONB extends to 3 RDAs (adjustment made) • East Midlands RDA with only one AONB – Lincolnshire Wolds AONB

23. Results Average scores /10: 40/40 AONB response

24. Other development pressures within and adjoining the AONB

25. Recommendations • Separate AONB weekly planning list – MIS software • Central database – AONB MP demonstrated influence and impact on planning applications. • Monitoring system to analyse comments made on planning applications linked to AONB Management Plan • Analysis of planning applications – approval/refusal, type, scale etc. Presentation of data • Planning Protocols • Positively engage with P&CPAct > LDP/LDF

26. Recommendations • Formation of internal Development Team • Structured training programme for AONB & Planning Staff, JAC Members and Planning Committee Members • Regional training • AONB Management Plans without policies to be included at next plan review • Create Regional Protected Landscape Forum (Ref SW PLF) • Regional and national research / analysis – include National Parks

27. Completing the Circle • Isle of Anglesey AONB – CCW agreement (grant funding) in principle to fund recommendations • Isle of Anglesey County Council – Head of Service Planning, Head of Development Control & Development Control Manager approve and support recommendations with agreed action plan • Improved communication with Development Control

28. A word of caution • In the grand scheme of things a ‘small’ but valuable piece of research • Research tested the hypothesis: ‘AONB Management Plans make an important, integral contribution to development control decisions within and adjoining AONBs • 12 week research period

41. Thank you very much • Questions / Discussion amopl@anglesey.gov.uk