Current Policy Response Work

11-Dec-08

Governments undertake a wide range of policy development work. The RTPI policy team uses the policy and research priorities and the policy and practice strategy to help to decide which to respond to.

RTPI Members can contribute their expertise to the development of new policy positions to be used in policy responses.

The RTPI policy team are involved in the following current policy consultations:

Link to Consultation Document	Body and Nation	Internal Closing Date	Contact the Policy Team
Draft government circular: biodiversity and geological conservation – statutory obligations and their impact within the planning system This consultation seeks comments on a proposed revision to the Government circular ‘Biodiversity and Geological Conservation – Statutory obligations and their impact within the planning system’. This circular was first issued jointly by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in 2005. The revised circular will complement the ‘Consultation on a new Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a natural and healthy environment’ which is being issued for public consultation at the same time by CLG.	Defra & CLG	4th May 2010	Email Network Manager
Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Natural and Healthy Environment Consultation on proposed planning policy on: biodiversity; geological conservation; landscape and soil protection; heritage coastline; open space; sport; recreation; green infrastructure; and floodlighting of sports and recreational facilities. CLG	CLG	4th May 2010	Email Network Manager
Planning Policy Statement: Planning for a Low Carbon Future in a Changing Climate This consultation seeks views on the proposal to combine and update existing planning policy on climate change and renewable energy from two documents into one. Building from current approaches, the new policy reflects the latest legislative and policy context. The Planning Policy Statement (PPS) will be a supplement to Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development (PPS1).	CLG	4th May 2010	Email England Policy
Draft Northern Ireland Regeneration and Housing Bill The draft bill puts forward policy proposals for the transfer of three areas of operational delivery from the Department for Social Development (DSD) and four from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) in May 2011, under the Review of Public Administration (RPA).The three DSD functions are (1)Work in tackling urban deprivation; primarily the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (2)Operational delivery of physical development projects under town and city regeneration including; comprehensive development, public realm and environmental improvement (3)Local community development support. The four NIHE functions are (1)Houses in multiple occupation (2)Housing unfitness (3)The Living Over The Shop (LOTS) initiative (4)Local energy conservation. The draft Bill will allow for the transfer of a range of regeneration and housing functions from the Department of the Environment to local government control and will extend and complement existing Council services.	DSDNI	12th April 2010	Email Northern Ireland Policy
The Economic Renewal Programme The Economic Renewal Programme aims to establish a renewed approach to economic development in Wales that is better able to meet the needs of businesses, will encourage a stronger and more sustainable economy and increase the prosperity and long-term wellbeing of the people of Wales. This consultation is part of a proactive approach by the Assembly Government to seek input from as wide a range of groups as possible into the Programme.	Welsh Assembly	9th April 2010	Email RTPI Cymru
Study to Examine the Planning Application Process in Wales	GVA Grimley	26th March 2010	Email RTPI Cymru
Natural England’s Draft Position on Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture: Consultation This consultation seeks views on Natural England’s draft position on marine fisheries and aquaculture issues including commerce, food production, recreation, ecosystems and industry.	Natural England	25th March 2010	Email Network Manager
Consultation on revised guidance on the Groundwater (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 These Regulations replace the Groundwater Regulations 1998 which have now been repealed. The new guidance will replace the guidance issued in 1999 in respect of the Groundwater Regulations 1998. Whilst there are differences of detail, the principles of groundwater protection are largely unchanged and this is reflected in the guidance such that impacts should be minimised.	Defra	8th March 2010	Email Network Manager
Consultation on the Government's strategy for the Inland Waterways of England and Wales - Waterways for Everyone This follow-up document to Waterways for Tomorrow sets out Government’s strategy for further enhancing the public benefits of inland waterways by widening the involvement of stakeholders and by supporting the management and development of the waterways.	Defra	26th February 2010	Email Network Manager
Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Order 2010 We are now seeking views as to whether the policy intent is achieved by the wording of the draft Order, and any comments concerning the content of the draft guidance.	DCMS	12th February 2010	Email Network Manager
General consents for licensing schemes under Parts 2 and 3 of the Housing Act 2004	CLG	No response	Email Network Manager
Consultation on the Draft High Hedges Bill The main aim of the Bill is to provide a means of redress for owners or occupiers of domestic property who allege an adverse effect on the enjoyment of their property due to the height of a neighbouring high hedge.	DOENI	Response submitted	Email Northern Ireland Policy
Code for Sustainable Homes and the Energy Efficiency standard for Zero Carbon Homes This Consultation covers both policy and technical changes being considered to the Code which include embedding the new definition of zero carbon for new homes.	CLG England	19th Feb 2010	Email Network Manager
Improving engagement by statutory and non-statutory consultees This consultation seeks views on a range of proposals to improve the consultation arrangements for statutory and non-statutory consultees.	CLG England	12th Feb 2010	Email England Policy
Improving the use and discharge of planning conditions This consultation seeks views on a draft policy annex on the use of planning conditions (which also clarifies current arrangements on the fees that LPAs can charge), and on proposed measures to improve the discharging of conditions. We are also consulting on the Planning Inspectorate Model Planning Conditions.	CLG England	12th Feb 2010	Email Network Manager
Development Management: Proactive Planning from Pre-Application to Delivery This consultation seeks views on a draft new PPS on development management and on draft policy annexes on pre-application and determination.	CLG England	12th Feb 2010	Email England Policy
Extending the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target This consultation seeks views on proposals for a higher carbon emissions reduction target of 293 million tonnes of lifetime CO2 savings by December 2012. It also seeks views on the provision of an insulation minimum and the removal of compact fluorescent lights as eligible measures, so as to drive insulation delivery at scale and ensure the target to insulate 6 million homes by December 2011 is met.	DECC UK	12th Feb 2010	Email England Policy
Consultation on marine plan areas within the English Inshore and English Offshore Marine Regions In England, the intention is that the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) take forward the development of Marine Plans on behalf of the Secretary of State. Before the MMO can begin planning, the UK Government needs to decide the boundaries for each plan area.	Defra England	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
Penfold Review of Non-planning Consents – Call for Evidence A new review and a call for evidence to identify and address barriers to investment created by consents for development, other than planning permission.	BIS UK	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI submission
Call for evidence - Spatial planning for health: local authorities and primary care trusts NICE has been asked by the Department of Health to develop guidance on Spatial Planning for Health for local authorities (LAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs), planners and developers. This guidance is due to be published in December 2011.	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI submission
Consultation on Householder & Non-Householder Permitted Development Rights in Northern Ireland The purpose of these two consultations is to obtain the views on the Department’s proposals to extend householder permitted development rights to reduce the need for developers/operators to seek planning permission for minor development enabling the Planning Service to redirect resources to address more strategic and complex planning applications, improving the efficiency in the planning system.	Northern Ireland	Response submitted	Email Policy Northern Ireland
The purpose of this consultation is to obtain views on the Department’s proposals to provide specific permitted development rights for microgeneration development including solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, anaerobic digestion plant etc. The proposals will allow certain types of small scale renewable energy generation development to proceed without the need for a planning application.	Northern Ireland	Response submitted	Email Policy Northern Ireland
Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Putting in place the legal framework for implementation The draft regulations establish a legal framework which assigns duties to the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland. The draft regulations propose that: In Northern Ireland, the Department of Environment would supply information about our particular circumstances to help with the assessment, determination and target setting and would be responsible for devising Northern Ireland’s programme of measures and monitoring arrangements in close coordination with the other competent authorities.	DOENI	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response for Northern Ireland
Consultation on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme Charging Scheme Northern Ireland This Consultation is seeking views on proposals to make Regulations providing the legal framework for a Northern Ireland charging scheme to recover the costs of regulating the EU Emissions Trading Scheme under the requirements set out in the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme Regulations 2005.	Department of the Environment Northern Ireland	19th Jan 2010	Email Northern Ireland Policy
Zero Carbon for New Non-domestic Buildings: Consultation on Policy Options	CLG	No response	Email England Policy
Guidance for local authorities on incentivising landowners to bring forward additional land for rural affordable housing on rural exception sites This consultation paper seeks views on proposals to incentivise landowners to bring forward land for affordable housing in rural areas, through referral rights to the properties or retention of an interest in the land.	CLG	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
Northern Ireland Draft Addendum to Planning Policy Statement 7: Safeguarding the Character of Established Residential Areas This draft addendum provides new planning policy provisions on the protection of local character, environmental quality and residential amenity within established residential areas, villages and smaller settlements. It also sets out regional policy on the conversion of existing buildings to flats or apartments. In addition the addendum contains policy to promote greater use of permeable paving within new residential developments to reduce the risk of flooding from surface water run-off.	Department of the Environment Northern Ireland	19th Feb 2010	Email Northern Ireland
All Party Urban Development Group Inquiry: MINIMISING TRANSACTION COSTS IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT This inquiry will analyse transaction costs in urban development and make recommendations about how these can be kept at acceptable levels.	All Party Urban Development Group	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI Response
Permitted Development for Renewables and EV charging points consultation This consultation proposes to grant permitted development rights for certain types of small scale renewable and low carbon energy technologies, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.	CLG	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI Response
Call for Evidence: inquiry into the proposals for energy national policy statements The objective of the inquiry will be to determine whether the energy NPSs provide a coherent and practical framework within which the Infrastructure Planning Commission can assess future planning applications for energy infrastructure.	UK Parliament	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
Call for Evidence: Inquiry into the proposal for a National Policy Statement on Ports The Committee's scrutiny will focus on the following four main areas: 1. Responses to the questions in the Department's consultation; 2. Do the general planning principles set out in the proposal for a National Policy Statement on Ports form a coherent, appropriate, proportionate and practical framework within which the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) can asses future port planning applications; 3. Are the sustainability and environmental criteria outlined in the draft Ports NPS appropriate, proportionate and practical, and 4. Have issues or principles which should have been included in the draft Ports NPS been left out.	UK Parliament	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
Consultation on a new National Park and Broads Circular and Vision Statement The new Circular will be policy guidance for all those whose decisions or actions might affect the National Parks and the Broads. This will include, amongst others, government departments, government agencies, local authorities and public bodies of various kinds. View consultation questions here	Defra	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response.
THE POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL (DISTRICT COUNCIL) DRAFT CHARGING SCHEME (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2010 This is a policy consultation on a revised charging scheme for installations and mobile plant. The scheme is made under Regulation 22 of The Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003.The overall aim of the charging scheme is to provide full cost recovery for regulation of prescribed installations in keeping with the Government’s “polluter pays” policy. Following a review of costs associated with the required regulatory functions, a number of changes are proposed to the charging scheme. The main changes proposed are fees to increase by 7% to reflect the significantly higher cost of the regulatory effort expended by the district councils. Also a new risk based charging scheme to be introduced from 2011.The consultation paper setting out the draft proposals is available on the Department of the Environment website.	DOENI	22nd Feb 2010	Email Northern Ireland
Overarching Energy National Policy Statement This Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) is part of a suite of NPSs issued by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. It sets out the Government’s policy for delivery of major energy infrastructure.	DECC	Response submitted	Click here to access our dedicated webpage
Nuclear National Policy Statement The draft Nuclear NPS lists sites that the Government has judged to be potentially suitable for the deployment of new nuclear power stations by the end of 2025. This is intended to reduce uncertainty about the siting of new nuclear power stations and to reduce the extent to which the IPC needs to consider alternative sites as applications come forward for development consent. The list of sites in the draft Nuclear NPS is the output from the Government’s Strategic Siting Assessment (SSA) process.	DECC	Response submitted	Click here to access our dedicated webpage
Fossil Fuels National Policy Statement It is Government policy that all new coal-fired generating stations should be required to capture and store the carbon emissions from a substantial proportion of their capacity. The Government plans to provide funding for up to four coal CCS demonstration projects, to be operational by 2020,	DECC	Response submitted	Click here to access our dedicated webpage
Renewable Energy National Policy Statement Electricity generation from renewable sources of energy is an important element in the Government’s transition to a low-carbon economy. There are ambitious renewable energy targets in place and a significant increase in generation from large-scale renewable energy infrastructure is necessary.	DECC	Response submitted	Click here to access our dedicated webpage
Oil and Gas Pipeline National Policy Statement This consultation deals with the efficient import, storage and transmission of natural gas and oil products. It has been identified as crucial to meeting our energy needs during the transition to a low carbon economy.	DECC	Response submitted	Click here to access our dedicated webpage
Electricity Networks National Policy Statement This consultation deals with new electricity generating infrastructure that has been identified that the UK needs to move to a low carbon economy while maintaining security of supply will be heavily dependent on the availability of a fit for purpose and robust electricity network.	DECC	Response submitted	Click here to access our dedicated webpage
Ports National Policy Statement The NPS sets out the Government’s conclusions on the need for new port infrastructure, considering the current place of ports in the national economy, the available evidence on future demand, and the options for meeting future needs.	DfT	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
Consultation on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Putting in place the legal framework for implementation. Joint consultation between Defra, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland. It invites your views on the draft regulations with which the Government and Devolved Administrations propose to transpose the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) (Directive 2008/56/EC).	Defra	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response.
Draft Policy on Soil This paper sets out Natural England’s draft policy on soil	Natural England	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
The London Plan	The London Mayor	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI London Region Response
Coastal Access: Consultation on proposals to amend the Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act 2000 for coastal land This consultation seeks views on amendments to ensure that coastal land is included within the Countryside and Rights of Way Act’s description of land to which the public has a right of access for the purposes of open-air recreation.	Defra	Response submitted	Click here to read our response
Consultation on developing a strategy for integrated and smart ticketing This consultation document explains the concepts of smart and integrated ticketing, summarises the current smart and integrated ticketing schemes in England, outlines the department’s vision for the future of smart and integrated ticketing and seeks to learn the consultees’ views on the subject and how much involvement they feel the Department should have in implementing such schemes going forward.	DfT	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response.
Consultation on proposed amendments to Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk This consultation seeks views on proposed amendments clarifying aspects of the spatial planning policy on development and flood risk.	CLG	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
Policy Statement on Regional Strategies and Guidance on the establishment of Leaders' Boards: Consultation This consultation seeks views on a new policy statement on the process of preparing, revising, implementing and monitoring regional strategies, draft regulations to support the implementation of part five of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill, draft guidance on the preparation of schemes for the establishment of leaders' boards and draft supplementary guidance on undertaking sustainability appraisal of regional strategies.	CLG	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
Development of Indicators for a Sustainable Food System: Consultation This consultation seeks views on a suite of indicators that will measure progress towards a sustainable food system.	Defra	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
Strengthening local democracy: Consultation	CLG	No response submitted	Email England Policy
Eco-towns - allocations from the eco-towns fund: Consultation This consultation paper sets out proposals for local authorities and their delivery team partners on how the £60million announced to support locations identified with the potential for an eco-town published in the PPS on 16 July 2009 over the 2009-11 period might be allocated. It also includes guidance on the preparation of an Eco-town Programme of Development to support bids for funding.	CLG	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
Consultation on amended strategic approach to housing key lines of enquiry (KLOE) Consultation on the Strategic approach to housing key line of enquiry (KLOE) and includes a draft version of the refreshed and updated KLOE and a feedback form for your comments.	Audit Commission	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
Consultation paper on a new Planning Policy Statement 15: Planning for the Historic Environment This consultation invites views on a new Planning Policy Statement (PPS) replacing Planning Policy Guidance 15: Planning and the Historic Environment (PPG15) and Planning Policy Guidance 16: Archaeology and Planning (PPG16). CLG Consultation on PPS15 Practice Guide Consultation on practice guidance to accompany PPS15	CLG & English Heritage	Response submitted	Click here to read the joint RTPI/IHBC response
Publicity for Planning Applications: Consultation This consultation seeks views on whether changes should be made to planning legislation in relation to publicising planning applications.	CLG	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI Response
Streamlining Information Requirements for Planning Applications: Consultation This consultation seeks views on proposals to make the requirements for information to accompany planning applications clearer, simpler and more proportionate.	CLG	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
Improving Permitted Development: Consultation This consultation seeks views on proposals to remove the need for a full planning application for some small-scale non-domestic development.	CLG	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
Detailed Proposals and Draft Regulations for the Introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy: Consultation This consultation seeks views on the Government's detailed proposals for the introduction of the community infrastructure levy, which will be a new charge that local authorities in England and Wales will be empowered, but not required, to charge on most types of new development in their area.	CLG	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI Response and the Planning Aid Response
Consultation: Draft policy on food security and the environment This consultation seeks views on Natural England’s draft policy on food security and the environment.	Natural England	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response
Marmot Review - Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in England post 2010	Global Health Equity Group	Response submitted	Click here to read the RTPI response

Members wishing to help form RTPI policy in respect of these consultations can view the papers by following the link and can then send their views to the policy team. Members wishing to comment on the current work programme can†contact england.policy@rtpi.org.uk.

Where relevant, an internal closing date is provided next to each consultation. This indicates that the consulting body has set a deadline for responses. The internal closing date enables the RTPI policy team to draft a coordinated response in time to meet the response deadline: please try to comment inside the internal consultation period.

RTPI nations and regions, networks and associations have strong roles in policy development. Follow these links to make contact and offer to help. The RTPI policy team is preparing short guides that explain how it works in partnership with nations, regions, networks and associations.

Planning Aid casework can provide valuable policy experience. Follow this link to volunteer. Existing caseworkers can offer help through their regional coordinators. A short guide to policy partnership between Planning Aid and the RTPI policy team will shortly be available here.