Responding to planning overhaul
Royal Borough: Council sends feedback to Government
The Royal Borough has raised concerns over Government plans to overhaul the national planning system.
The proposals, entitled Planning for the Future, were revealed in a white paper by the Prime Minister in August.
The Royal Borough has now submitted its response to the plans as part of a consultation, and shared feedback on areas it thought could be improved.
Features of the plans include automating some parts of the planning process, and therefore taking some control away from local authorities when it comes to approving or rejecting planning applications.
Under the proposals, the Government would work with local authorities to identify ‘g rowth’ areas which are suitable for large developments, ‘renewal’ areas that are suitable for some development, and ‘protected’ areas, where development will be restricted.
Once these areas have been designated, local authorities will have a reduced ability to prevent development, particularly in the ‘g rowth’ areas, and outline approval would be automat
ically granted to developments that fulfil a certain set of criteria.
When it was first announced, the white paper was criticised by Maidenhead MP Theresa May, who called the plans ‘ill-conceived’, while Bob Dulson, Maidenhead Civic Society chairman, thought they ‘raised concerns over local democracy.’
Councillor David Coppinger (Con, Bray), lead member for planning, stated that while the council supports some aspects of the plan, there are also areas of concern.
He said: “Principally, we are supportive of simplifying the planning system, improving community engagement, delivering adequate market and affordable homes, ensuring the delivery of high-quality places and embedding sustainability at the heart of planning.
"While we are supportive of the principles we do however have concerns about some aspects of the proposals.
“Under the new proposals the country would be less able to initiate fast responses to unexpected circumstances, such as the likely impact of the current pandemic on our high streets.
“The ambition in the proposals would also require significant additional investment and resourcing of local planning authorities, as such there needs to be clarity on how adequate resourcing will be funded.
“The comments contained in our response are intended to assist in the development of the Government’s proposals, and it is hoped that they are received in the helpful and constructive manner in which they were intended.”
When the plans were first revealed, a Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokeswoman said: “Our proposals will increase the supply of land available for new homes where it is needed to address affordability pressures, and support economic growth and the renewal of our towns and cities.”