Pressure mounting on Government over planning reforms

Published by Ross Macmillan for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Local Government

Further pressure is being mounted on the Government over its plans for a new planning system, as 23 former presidents of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)  hit out today at the speed of the reforms.

The draft National Planning Policy Framework was published in July and contains a core presumption that the default answer to development will be ‘yes’, except where this would compromise key sustainable development principles set out in national planning policy.

But critics have raised concerns that it will lead to a return to damaging development.

In a letter to The Daily Telegraph, 23 former presidents of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) called for a calm discussion of the plans.

They wrote: "The debate about planning reform highlights the importance of planning for growth, building communities and the conservation of cherished spaces. But it has descended into open hostility on all sides, with each party interpreting the policy in different ways.

"The Government wants to bring in a new system almost overnight, reflecting the urgency of delivering localism and stimulating housing and economic growth. While we recognise this urgency and support the Government's overall objectives, the unintended consequences of this haste are greater confusion, uncertainty for the development industry and anxiety for communities."

And they added: "As the voice of the professionals who will be charged with making any system work, the RTPI stands ready to bring the parties together to address the confusion and to resolve the conflict."

Meanwhile, the departing chief of the British Chamber of Commerce has told the Times that the government must “hold its course” as the row intensifies.

David Frost said: “The government is absolutely right to move on planning but my worry is that it is going to stall. It has to hold its course. There is a stand-off and you have serious forces lined up against the proposed change.”

In July, the National Trust warned the presumption risks creating an "urban sprawl" akin to that of Los Angeles.