About the RTPI
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) champions the power of planning in creating sustainable, prosperous places and vibrant communities. We have over 27,000 members in the private, public, academic, and voluntary sectors. Using our expertise and research we bring evidence and thought leadership to shape planning policies and thinking, putting the profession at the heart of society's big debates. We set the standards of planning education and professional behaviour that give our members, wherever they work in the world, a unique ability to meet complex economic, social environmental and cultural challenges.
a. Are the principles and focus areas for the Strategy the right ones to prioritise?
The principles and objectives outlined in the working paper address some of the most pressing challenges the UK face. It is particularly positive to see that the Strategy extends beyond major infrastructure to local and social infrastructure.
The Strategy covers the UK. However, the working paper as it stands now does not address the devolved nature of planning across UK nations. For the Strategy to achieve its UK-wide ambition, it will be important to incorporate existing long-term planning strategies in the devolved nations, particularly NPF4 in Scotland, Future Wales: The National Plan 2040 and Regional Development Strategy in Northern Ireland.
Two further areas the Strategy could cover are skills and mineral planning. The delivery of key infrastructure will depend on the availability of skills in various sectors of the industry. The Strategy could include a long-term plan for skills, addressing the uncertainty caused for example by the potential removal of funding for Level 7 apprenticeships (see the RTPI’s briefing on the topic).
The incorporation of mineral planning into the Strategy could help ensure a steady supply of materials for the construction of infrastructure.
b. Which functions of a spatial strategy are most important for you?
It is very positive to see the ambition for the Strategy to include a spatial element. It will be important that there is coordination between the Strategy and other national-scale spatial plans such as the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan and the Land Use Framework. To this end, the RTPI calls for the development of a National Spatial Framework for England, which would simplify, expedite and integrate plan-making. This will in turn accelerate and improve the delivery of infrastructure.
In a previous briefing, the RTPI has set out the purposes a National Spatial Framework may serve. These include:
- Promoting integration between priorities across different government departments and agencies;
- Directing investments and coordinating funding streams;
- Providing a place-based perspective for the National Industrial Strategy and Local Growth Plans; and
- Coordinating between local, regional and national planning.
The working paper mentioned the provision of a ‘place-based perspective’. This is in line with the RTPI’s ‘Map for England’ initiative, which highlights the potential to strengthen democratic debate through providing a spatial representation of policy effects. It would be immensely positive if the Strategy could include a map of policy effects across the UK in relation to infrastructure. This would help communities understand how infrastructure policies and projects would affect them and enable meaningful participation.
c. Of the types of pipeline – which are the most important features to industry?
No comment.
d. How best can the government provide greater certainty for industry? Including the role of the Strategy, a pipeline, and departments?
In the context of England, the development of a National Spatial Framework will improve certainty for industry, particularly through directing investments and coordinating funding streams. A National Spatial Framework will also promote integration between different departments and agencies, improving consistency and sending a clearer message for industry. (See our response to b)
e. Do you have views on the early priorities for NISTA to support the delivery of the Strategy?
The Strategy would be particularly helpful in integrating various government priorities currently being delivered by separate departments. Spatial coordination is at present lacking, particularly at the national level. A mechanism to manage land use conflicts will help accelerate infrastructure delivery.
As such the RTPI would support NISTA to focus on the development of a spatial strategy in its early days.
- As mentioned in our answer to (a), it would also be positive if NISTA would consider how the Strategy will incorporate the long-term spatial strategies in the devolved nations – given its UK-wide remit.
