Myth number 1: the default response is "no"

Background to the myth

The Governments Plan for Growth aims to introduce a "powerful new presumption in favour of sustainable development so that the default answer to development is 'yes';".

Evidence base

However the planning system already provides a largely positive response to development. 

• "In the 12 months to March 2011, district level local authorities received 483,500 applications", granting 355,800 of those applications, which was "6% up on the 12 months to March 2010". DCLG, Planning Applications: March Quarter 2011 (England)
• Government statistics show that for at least a decade over 80% of planning applications have been granted DCLG, Dec 2010: Table P120  – higher (around 90%) for the major commercial applications critical for economic growth. 
• The Use Classes Order allows changes between land uses where there will be no adverse impact, thus providing a "yes" default position and reducing the number of planning applications which would be made if it were not in place.  Permitted development rights, which have been progressively extended in recent years, and the use of Local Development Orders also mean that a high number of low impact developments can take place without the need to apply for planning permission. 
• Development Management Opinion Piece by RTPI member Richard Arkell (August 2011)

Our view

The RTPI believes that "good planning has always been about enabling the right development in the right place and the right time and, equally importantly, preventing inadequate, poorly located and untimely schemes"  (RTPI Manifesto: Shaping the Future).  Our planning system does "prevent 'planning chaos'. Developers cannot build what they like, where they like, and when they like." (RTPI Reponds to Telegraph Article 9.8.11).  However given the evidence set out the RTPI would argue that the default response to a planning application is already "yes", but subject to defined parameters, including the primacy of the development plan and the requirement for high quality design.   These parameters should not be weakened.