Simon Creer is Director of Communications and External Affairs at the RTPI
When I started at the RTPI the Planning White Paper had just been published. My then boss, said the priority was to see that through and then we could all get on with delivery. That was five years, three parliamentary bills, countless National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) tweaks, one government and a fair few housing ministers ago.
For at least half a decade, planners and the planning system have been on an endless treadmill of reform.
However, with the latest NPPF consultation now being crunched through by Government, the introduction of Spatial Development Strategies (SDS), and the Devolution and Communities Bill making its way through the house, it finally feels like we might possibly be reaching the sunlit uplands of delivery.
What we have to remember now, is that the public at large tend not to feel successful policy creation. In fact, you’d be hard pushed to find a person on the street who even has a passing knowledge of the NPPF.
No, people feel delivery and outcomes. That’s what planners are now on the hook for.
I’m excited to see our members turn these policies into realities for communities across the country when the finalised framework is published later this year.
Unlike many public policy spaces, planning is blessed with an opportunity to illustrate the path to delivery. The variety of communications and consultations that will be required are not only crucial for including communities in the creation of their local areas, but also a perfect way to show communities that work is being done for their benefit.
Given we know from recent surveys that despite the general mood people still have pride in their local areas, this is a powerful tool for planners. Helping people understand how they can shape their area and illustrating the positive activity planners are taking is an amazing gift.
While the outcomes of planning are often long in the realisation, collaborative planning will help people to understand what is being done and why.
I recognise that there are still some really chunky issues out there such as local government reform and financing. These may make the path to infrastructure, community hubs, public transport and housing a little lumpy, from SDSs through local plans and neighbourhood plans to delivery, but in that space planners have the opportunity to clearly show the work being done on behalf of people all over the country. If you squint at it, it’s kind of exciting.
The RTPI will be working on projects to support our members in these efforts and keeping a close eye on delivery across the country so we can provide any course corrections or warning signs that might be required.
But overall, it certainly feels like for the time being the treadmill of reform has finally stopped. And while it has been tiring keeping pace there’s now a chance to actually get out on the open road and start making a difference to people’s lives.
