6-Jun-07
Planning system reform on the way
Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has unveiled major reforms of the country’s planning system to make it fit to tackle new challenges in the 21st century - speeding up the system alongside improved community consultation.
The wide-ranging White Paper has four key pillars:
- 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 improvements like extensions and conservatories, where there is little or no impact on neighbours.
- Planning playing a bigger role in tackling climate change.
- Ensuring the planning system continues to support vibrant town centres.
The Government also pledged a new commitment to protect the green belt. The White Paper makes clear previously developed brown field land must remain the clear priority for housing development with our parks and green spaces protected.
A new system will replace over 8 different planning regimes and could save over £1 billion within 10 years and includes:
- A new national policy framework set by Ministers and parliament setting out how we will meet the country’s key infrastructure needs for the next 10-25 years, bringing it together under one legal framework. This will be subject to public consultation.
- A new stronger but clearer inquiry system with more expertise. This will be led by an independent commission consisting of leading experts from key sectors - including planners, lawyers, environmentalists and community experts - who will take decisions on individual projects. This will include new "open floor" debates where residents can have their say rather than having to go before a court-room style inquiry hearing.
- A new legal requirement on developers to consult with the public and key parties such as environmental groups and heritage experts.
- Major expansion of free access to advice from planning professionals - so not just those who can afford to pay can make their voices heard.
