Overview
The RTPI is the leading professional body for town planners in the UK and Europe. For over a century, we have championed the planning profession, supporting our 27,000 members globally. Across both public and private sectors, we support planners as they shape healthy, socially inclusive, economically and environmentally sustainable places.
The Bill presents an opportunity to deliver positive change for the public, therefore the RTPI urges Peers to seize the opportunity to support and enhance this legislation by speaking to and supporting the below amendments.
- Exercise of planning functions to be compatible with the purpose of planning – amendment number 132
- Chief planner – amendment number 162
- National Spatial Framework – amendment number 160
- Meetings of local planning authorities to be available for participation online – currently unnumbered
Exercise of planning functions to be compatible with the purpose of planning - tabled by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, amendment number 132
At the RTPI, we have been calling for a clear purpose of planning in legislation. Amendment number 132 identifies and recognises that the purpose of planning is to manage the development and use of land in the long-term public interest, which the RTPI fully supports. With this purpose set out in legislation, we can all be better assured that actions taken within the planning system are in the best interest of the public. A “purpose” would provide an overarching vision, promoting consistency across all involved in decision-making, including elected members, developers and local authority planners
There is also a need to improve public engagement of the planning system. A clear purpose of planning would help to frame a positive and pro-active conversation with local communities – they are the local experts, and planning is in their service. The Bill has the potential to shape a generation’s perception and interest in the planning system and civic participation more broadly. By demonstrating to young people the nature of the planning system being in the long-term public interest, we can inspire a future pipeline of planners into a life-long career, managing the key societal challenges of our era.
The RTPI have also noted that England is currently an outlier in having no “purpose of planning” outlined in our planning legislation. Across the devolved nations of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and worldwide in nations such as Australia and Canada, a purpose of planning has been successfully adopted and we would want to see this replicated in England’s planning legislation, through the inclusion of this clause.
Chief Planner – tabled by Lord Lansley, amendment number 162
The RTPI has long been advocating for statutory chief planning officers in every local planning authority. This role is a critical part of the democratic process, being best placed to provide impartial professional advice to elected members and build the critical relationships necessary for smooth local decision-making and democracy.
RTPI research has found that 9% of local authorities had no clear ‘head of planning service’ employed. This is particularly concerning when taking into consideration proposals from Government for a new national scheme of delegation which places chief planning officers as integral to decision-making on delegation alongside Planning Committee conveners.
The RTPI believes it is vital that local authorities have a clear planning structure and that the chief planning officer be empowered to manage resource and training needs across planning functions. Planning departments need to have a chief planning officer overseeing and connecting through management structures, both development management and development planning functions. When these functions are split, there have been well documented impacts upon performance.
Following the inclusion of this amendment in legislation and after Royal Assent, we would expect subsequent guidance on the chief planning officer role, to set out the job description, including protections for planning teams from restructuring. With planning represented at the corporate level in local authorities there is greater opportunity to set out long-term land use implications of strategic decision-making. This supports the drive towards an integrated vision for sustainable growth, which is critical at this time of challenging local government financing and reform.
The impending programme of devolution and local government reform will likely create larger teams covering larger geographies and co-operating with newly emerging strategic authorities, therefore the existing need to see strong leadership in the planning system will be magnified.
National Spatial Framework – tabled by Lord Shipley, amendment number 160
The RTPI fully supports the amendment tabled for a National Spatial Framework. As an Institute, we have continuously highlighted the need for an overarching framework, whereby existing and emerging national strategies and plans should inform strategic level plans and strategies. Integrating these sectoral plans through a National Spatial Framework can simplify, expedite and strengthen the development and monitoring of strategic level plans and strategies.
We have seen recognition in the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy on the need to produce national spatial priorities, encourage joint working and ensure strategic development strategies (SDSs) work in harmony at a regional and national level. Similarly, the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill has set out a duty for Mayors to collaborate with the stipulation that such collaboration would improve economic, social or environmental wellbeing of people living or working in their area.
A statutory provision for a National Spatial Framework, as set out in this amendment, would be the best way to ensure strategic decision-making and collaboration at a regional and national level in relation to the above.
Once established, a National Spatial Framework can be used to identify and prioritise investment need and opportunity, coordinating and directing funding to achieve maximum value and address regional inequalities across the country. Improved connection between plans and strategies will help the Government realise its housing, economic, nature and clean energy goals. We believe it will prove to be a key tool to improve the cross-working and collaboration between Government departments as well as stakeholders.
Meetings of local planning authorities to be available for participation online – tabled by Baroness Thornhill
One of the core objectives of the Bill is to improve certainty and decision-making in the planning system. Ensuring public access to decision-making in our planning system and having a recorded log of these decisions, as a result of this amendment, will increase engagement, improve transparency and ensure accurate information is retained if needed for judicial review.
This is particularly relevant if under a new proposed national scheme of delegation, a smaller number of more significant planning applications are to go to planning committees, the RTPI wants to see tangible and meaningful steps to better engage the public on those applications which will have a large impact on their area.
Recent work by the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) showed that 15% of local councils do not webcast or record Planning Committee meetings. With many councils recognising and noting the range of benefits of providing online availability of meetings, it calls into question why a minority of local councils do not offer the same provisions for engagement to their communities and constituents.
The provision of online format option would particularly support better engagement for those who live in rural areas and may have a long travel time or may be disadvantaged by poor public transport. The amendment also better accommodates the needs of those with work and/or caring responsibilities and/or people with personal or protected characteristics who may find online attendance or viewing more accessible. This amendment will ensure that members of the public across the country will have equal access in the ways in which they can engage with and understand the decisions of their local Planning Committee.
Recent updates to the written representation for planning appeals guidance state that in the event that an officer recommendation is overturned at committee, it’s important that meeting minutes and refusal reasons are robust and fully address any issues. The RTPI notes a video recording of the meeting, as outlined in this amendment, is the most robust record of refusal reasons and decisions.
The online access and recording of planning committees adds transparency to the way the service is being delivered for the public and ensures there is a 100% accurate record of the process for future use if needed.
Contact:
The RTPI have launched our Planning Reform 2025 Hub. This Hub is the home of all the RTPI’s planning reform related policy briefings, commentary, blogs and consultation responses.
The Hub will continue to be updated over the course of the year as planning reform policy and legislative developments progress.
The RTPI is happy to support Peers and their staff throughout the passage of the Bill. If you would like to discuss any of the above or have questions around planning reform, please get in touch [email protected]