• RTPI briefings
  - House of Lords
  - House of Commons
  - Pre-publication of the Bill
   
• RTPI information and guidance
• Key media responses
• Ongoing work

latest

10 minute round up of the Localism Act by Kelvin MacDonald (podcast)

Royal Assent was announced on 15 November which means we now have a Localism Act. Our note The RTPI and the Localism Act sets out what we have done to try to improve the Bill as it went through Parliament. As our President, Richard Summers says, ‘the key test of the Localism Act will be its implementation.’

DCLG have produced a plain english guide to the Localism Act (external link)

Next steps
We are already working with a range of partners on the question of guidance.
We are awaiting the regulations on CIL and neighbourhood planning; the outcomes of the local plan regulations and change of use consultations, and also seeking clarification of the position on planning fees and transitional arrangements.

Special thanks are due to our members who helped shape our policies through their invaluable expertise during our consultations.

Our response to the draft National Planning Policy Framework can be found here: high level points (pdf 72.5kb) and response to questionnaire (pdf 244kb). See our NPPF page for more information.

Myth busting: the truth about planning - campaign to set the record straight about planning and emphasise the true value of proper planning.

RTPI Briefings

 House of Lords: 19 May - 15 November 2011

• The RTPI and the Localism Act (15 November);
• House of Commons Consideration of Amendments (7 November);
• Lords Report Stage Briefing (10 October);
• Civic Voice and RTPI suggested amendment to the Localism Bill: Purposes of a Neighbourhood Forum (29 June);
• Lords' Committee Stage Briefing: Transitional Arrangements (29 June);
• RTPI Issue Briefing: Enforcement (29 June);
• House of Lords' Committee Stage June/July 2011: Summary (27 June);
• House of Lords' Commitee Stage: Clause 124 Local Financial Considerations (27 June);
• RTPI Issue Briefing: Mayoral Powers (27 June);
• RTPI Briefing on the Localism Bill: Lords' Second Reading (1 June). During the debate one of the key issues we pressed in our briefing, Clause 124 (financial considerations), was raised 8 times.
• Lords’ Second Reading: Other Planning Provisions in the Bill (1 June);
• Lords’ Second Reading: Non-Planning Provisions in the Bill (1 June);
• Lords’ Second Reading: Local Financial Considerations (27 May);
• Lords’ Second Reading: Enforcement (27 May);
• Lords’ Second Reading: Neighbourhood Planning (27 May).

House of Commons: 13 December 2010 - 18 May

• RTPI Briefing: House of Commons Report Stage (13 May). The House of Commons Library Research paper contained six references to RTPI positions on the Bill, including a reference to Trudi Elliott’s evidence to the Bill committee;
• Discussion Document: National Planning Policy Framework (15 April);
• Budget 2011 Briefing (24 March);
• National Planning Policy Framework: Pre-consultation Phase – RTPI Initial Proposals (28 February);
• Proposed RTPI Amendment: Strategic Planning -Clause 90 (14 February). Decentralisation Minister, Greg Clark quoted extensively from it at the Select Committee and praised our involvement whilst speaking at the RTPI Planning Convention,
• Parliamentary Briefing: Commons' Second Reading of the Bill (11 January); 
• Localism Bill: Briefing Paper (21 December 2010).

Pre-publication of the Bill - before 12 December 2010

• Twelve Tests for the Localism Bill (7 December 2010);
• Briefing Note: Local and Neighbourhood Planning System (10 December 2010);
• Localism Bill Brief: Great Expectations (24 November 2010);
• Briefing Note: Government Proposals for National Planning (4 August 2010);
• Briefing Note: Local Enterprise Partnerships (2 August 2010);
• Briefing Note: Announcements on Strategic Planning (8 July 2010).

Please note: the RTPI position on some issues has evolved as developments have occured. Early briefings may not represent the most upto date RTPI stance.

RTPI information and guidance

• Using the Costs Regime to Strengthen the Duty to Co-operate (8 June);
• Information Note: Existing Tools for Neighbourhood Planning, includes case studies (24 May);
• Information Page: Houses in Multiple Occupation (Updated 6 May);
• A Quick Guide to the Localism Bill: Neighbourhood Plans (1 June);
• Neighbourhood planning event resources (16 November)
• Introductory Guide: Localism Bill in Wales (20 January);
• Information Page: Changes to PPS3: Housing - Garden Land (22 November 2010);
• Archive Localism Bill: Latest Government Announcements (4 August).

key media responses

• Britain’s planners launch myth busting campaign to improve understanding of planning (6 September);
• RTPI Past Presidents letter to The Times and The Telegraph on their concerns about planning reform (1September);
• RTPI terms the draft National Planning Policy Statement (NPPF) a "missed opportunity" (25 July);  
• In response to the 23 march Budget RTPI President, Richard Summers says Britain’s planners fear a ‘tin shed’ England within 10 years;
• Kelvin MacDonald, Chief Policy Advisor to the RTPI discusses key issues that remain to be resolved (Podcast 22 July).
• All RTPI media releases
• All RTPI consultation responses

Ongoing work

• We continue to be involved in discussions with Ministers and officials;
• RTPI is represented on the CLG Planning Sounding Board;
• We are working with a range of partners on the question of guidance;
• RTPI members are consulted through our Localism Bill Reference Group. Email your views to localismbill@rtpi.org.uk;
• We formally respond to Government consultations. See the list of open consultations and make a contribution;
• Check RTPI events calendar for details of all forthcoming events for members on the Localism Bill;
• Members are kept informed of our progress via special bulletins.

Author:

Sarah Lewis

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

17-Nov-11

Categories:

Policy, Practice, RTPI News 

Sections:

News & Media , What Planning Does

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