House of Lords Committee Stage briefing

Overview

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) champions the art and science of planning, working for the long-term common good and wellbeing of current and future generations and representing over 27,000 members across both public and private sectors.  

The RTPI is very supportive of the Government’s devolution agenda including proposals for national coverage of strategic authorities, who will produce spatial development strategies (SDSs), as well as the devolution of planning powers to mayors.

Effective scrutiny of this Bill will be critical to the impact and effectiveness in ushering in a new era of regional empowerment, growth and identity. In advance of Committee stage debates on the Bill, this briefing sets out the amendments the RTPI would encourage Peers to support, to refine and enhance provisions and support the Government’s ongoing planning reforms.

Rural Amendments: 7 and 128 tabled by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon

The RTPI fully supports the amendments tabled by Baroness Royall which aim to strengthen provisions in the Bill for rural communities. With 85% of England’s land area is classified as rural, and 17% of the country’s population living in these areas it is vital that there are measures within the Bill that consider the unique and specific needs of rural communities to get the fair representation, strategic investment and support needed to thrive. Amendment number 7, adding “rural affairs” as an area of competence will ensure that a number of the Bill’s provisions will be able to be applied to rural affairs, including allowing Mayors to appoint a rural affairs commissioner where appropriate.

Whilst we agree that drawing provisions from the Greater London Act is the right approach, the Bill needs to go further in ensuring that measures aren’t urban-centric and different contexts across the country are considered. Baroness Royall’s proposed new clause, Amendment 128 the “duty to consider the needs of rural communities”, will provide a safeguard to ensure that Mayors and strategic authorities are factoring in the needs of their rural populations into decision-making. With predominantly rural areas of England contributing 16.2% of England’s total gross value added (GVA) to the economy (House of Lords Library) it is vital that this Bill does not miss the opportunity to secure a devolution programme for all, with rural communities seen and included within it.

Chief planner Amendment: 131 tabled by Lord Lansley

The RTPI has long been calling for statutory chief planning officers and therefore firmly supports Amendment 131 put forward by Lord Lansley. More than a quarter of local planning authorities (LPAs) that responded to our State of the Profession 2025 survey stated that their authority does not have a chief planning officer in place to oversee planning operations. Chief planning officers are 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. 

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. There is also a need for local planning authorities to have an organised and meaningful input into the production of SDSs and the chief planner role will be critical in ensuring this happens, as well as being the key link in brokering internal and external stakeholder relationships.

Neighbourhood governance Amendment: 208 tabled by Lord Lansley

Clause 58 on new neighbourhood governance structures can be strengthened to encourage communities to build visions and strategies for the long-term development of their areas by engaging more with the planning system and moving beyond a primary focus on public service delivery. The new proposed National Planning Policy Framework identifies that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, by managing the use and development of land in the long-term public interest, and this purpose should follow-through into how we can engage our communities.

The inclusion of this amendment within the Bill will mean that regulations may include provisions about the means by which effective, community engagement and the empowerment of neighbourhoods in relation to decisions affecting their area may be realised. The RTPI would urge that regulations covering this Clause and amendment would set out how neighbourhood governance arrangements can be utilised for the preparation and implementation of local plans and spatial development strategies (SDSs). This will be a progressive step towards bringing decision-making closer to residents and ensuring communities are utilising the planning system effectively.