The Lyons Report

17-Apr-07

Sir Michael Lyons was commissioned by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Deputy Prime Minister in July 2004 to consider funding arrangements for local government.  The Inquiry's remit was subsequently extended in September 2005 to consider the form and function of local government.

In December 2005 Sir Michael published a Consultation Paper and Interim Report.

In May 2006 National Prosperity, Local Choice and Civic Engagement was published in which the role of local authorities in place shaping is considered.

In 2006 the Review was extended again to consider the implications for local government of the Barker, Eddington and Leitch Reports. Click here for the discussion document surrounding these reports.  Click here for the RTPI's response.

The final report of the Lyons Review "Place-shaping: a shared ambition for the future of local government " was published on 21 March 2007. Click here to view the Executive Summary or here to view the Full Report (large file).

Sir Michael’s final report looks at the role of Local Government in the 21st century and concludes it to be that of ‘place-shaping’ which Lyons sees as ‘the creative use of powers and influence to promote the general well-being of a community and its citizens.’

Place-shaping in Lyons’s view is considerably wider than the physical developments with which planning is generally associated. However, Lyons believes land use planning to be the most immediate tool which authorities can use to influence the physical shape of localities.  The RTPI’s Effective Practice in Spatial Planning Project considers the implications for Spatial Planning in further detail.

Sir Michael’s recommendations contain important messages for the planning profession.  These include:

  • Greater flexibility for local authorities to pursue their place-shaping role with less control from the centre.
  • Local Area Agreements should be developed in a way which leaves enough space for local priorities.  Multi Area Agreements should beused to develop locally determined sub-regional arrangements.
  • Kate Barker’s proposals for devolution and clarification in the planning system should be pursued.
  • Only issues of unambiguously national importance should be included in the Barker and Eddington proposals for reforming planning for major infrastructure projects. Even then local communities must have an opportunity to make their views known.

  

 

 
Author:
Will French
Publisher:
The Royal Town Planning Institute
Date:
17-Apr-07
Sections:
What Planning Does

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