National Planning Forum 20 March 2007 Alice Lester Principal Consultant Planning Advisory Service

1. National Planning Forum 20 March 2007 Alice LesterPrincipal ConsultantPlanning Advisory Service

2. what PAS focuses on encouraging best practice and continuous improvement providing tailored services promoting a culture of change, learning and development supporting authorities with large-scale housing developments (ATLAS)

3. Planning Performance Agreements - PPAs • Brief reminder………DCLG commissioned ATLAS research, pilot project to test out research findings. • 22 local authorities and partners (23 schemes) • Year long project • Independent evaluation • CLG supportive of the pilot and the concept

4. Objectives of the pilot • does a PPA improves the quality and efficiency of the development process? • what, if any, additional support/resources are needed to ensure successful use of PPAs? • to test the theory from the ATLAS report & the pilot guidance • to assess what is the most appropriate form for PPAs to take, and find best way of incorporating into the planning process

5. So what happened? • Of the 23 pilot schemes, 14 have produced a written document • For 5, its either ‘work in progress’, or they are putting the principles into practice to varying degrees but no drafted PPA • For 2, the sites have fallen by the wayside • …and two just never reply to any emails • Interim report September 2006, final report to CLG January 2007

6. Amber Valley & Banks Dvpt Ashford & S Kent College/GVA Grimleys/Sheppard Robson Birmingham & Concept Dvpt Solutions/KCB Associates Bracknell Forest & Redrow/Persimmon Canterbury & Berkeley Homes/Rolfe Judd Derby & Urban Innovations/Axis architects Durham & Naylors/Drawbridge Securities/Alistair Grills Assoc East Devon & East Devon New Community Partnership Gateshead & UK Land Estates/Nathaniel Lichfield London Borough of Hillingdon & Stockley Park Consortium Ltd/Montagu Evans Hertsmere & Nicolas King Homes PLC Isle of Wight & Your Energy Ltd Lambeth & Network Housing Group/ Stockwell Park Community Trust/Hepher Dixon Lancaster & Centros Miller/Montagu Evans Leeds & Hammersons/Town Centre Securities/CB Richard Ellis Newark & Sherwood & npower North Dorset & Hall & Woodhouse/Morgan Carey Oxford University/Tunberry Consulting Salford & Higher Broughton Partnership Ltd/Church Lukas/City Spirit Sheffield & RREEF Ltd /NJL Consulting Shepway & Cofton/Hobbs Parker Property LLP incorporating David Jarman Associates/Nickolls Quarry Wyre forest Tescos/GL HearnWyre forest Wyre forest Community Housing Who was involved?

7. Did a PPA improve the quality andefficiency of the development process? • Shared project vision and objectives • Structured framework for managing process via project plan • Focussed minds via timetable and key issues list • More positive, and earlier, engagement with consultees • Early identification of issues – avoiding late surprises

8. Did a PPA improve the quality andefficiency of the development process? (cont’d) • Reduced drift/increased certainty • Set tasks and responsibilities • Clear decision making forum • Collaborative, constructive communication • Better quality submissions Particularly welcomed by developers

9. What, if any, additional support or resources are needed? • Independent facilitator for inception day • Good practice examples • Template • Guidance • Project management training Some pilot authorities, and many developers, felt they were working to a PPA anyway, so pilot didn’t change anything

10. Most appropriate form for PPAs to take? • Agreements not contracts – and voluntary, not required • Owned/drafted by local authority • Record of project team and decision making framework • Project vision and objectives • Project issues and tasks (project plan) • Project programme • Flexible, living documents • Inception Day • Charter

11. Types of application? • Pilot had big variety. • Complex schemes raising many issues • Departure? • Unallocated site?

12. We suggest…… ….proposals that: • meet identified strategic objectives • requiring an EIA • that have an impact on strategic areas of environmentally sensitivity • involving significant non standard planning obligations • which require referral to a government body or regional assembly

13. Stakeholder engagement? • Earlier involvement appreciated, and responded to it • Members & corporate buy-in • More structured approach • Particularly welcomed by developers • Statutory consultees – regional variation

14. Implementation issues • BVPI 109 performance • Timing • Funding • Public perception

15. Time…….. • Did it speed up the process? • Did doing a PPA take more time?

16. Recommendations That CLG incorporate PPAs into the planning process and endose their voluntary use throughout the sector as good practice on complex applications That PPA applications are taken out of BVPI109a reporting, with a new target to determine the application in accordance with the PDA target agreed between the applicant and planning authority. That ATLAS issue revised guidance on; generic charter, components of a PPA, a successful process, when its appropriate and some good practice examples

17. Recommendations cont’d • That statutory agencies are required to take part in the PDA process • PAS/ATLAS devise and undertake a national dissemination programme • a process is carried out to define the scale and type of proposal eligible for a formal PDA; • fee structure is amended.

18. What next? • LG White Paper, Barker Review - collaborative and partnership working to deliver on complex and strategic proposals • CLG aim to consult on this, amended fee structure and new definition of major majors………….soon • ATLAS/PAS then progress guidance • Nothing to stop people from using PPAs now

19. contact us PAS website: www.pas.gov.ukPAS discussion forum register for monthly e-updates contact PAS: alice.lester@idea.gov.ukor pas@pas.gov.uk020 7296 6880 (ihelp)