Statement from the Royal Town Planning Institute in response to the publication by the Welsh Government of Building Better Places: The Planning System Delivering Resilient and Brighter Futures
Director of Wales and Northern Ireland, Roisin Willmott, said: “The RTPI welcomes the strong recognition in this report of the important role planning plays and encourages other governments and everyone involved with developing and creating places to sign up to this.
“The report captures the importance of planning and planners to both the recovery and our long term futures and reflects many of the messages we are promoting in our own Plan The World We Need campaign.
“This report provides practical guidance on how to use the tools already available to plan the world we need. In a short, non-technical format it helpfully summarises the existing tools, policy and guidance available, including Local Development Orders, Manual for Streets and directs us to further support.
“The pandemic has given us a unique opportunity to shift how we do things and has shone a light on what is important to us, as individuals and society as a whole – the natural environment, healthier lifestyles, less pollution and the value of good homes.
“It is vital that governments in all nations of the UK and Ireland seize the opportunity that this shift in awareness offers to plan the world we need.
“RTPI Cymru has set out in its research paper Plan The World We Need: the role of planning in a sustainable, resilient and inclusive recovery in Wales what it believes to be the best approach for a balanced recovery::
- Make decisions for the long term, based on sound and transparent evidence, integrating objectives, strategies and plans;
- Build on positive behavioural change and environmental improvements, with a long term focus on climate action;
- Adopt a focused partnership approach;
- Ensure a framework that enables the prioritisation of appropriate investment;
- Provide clear quality standards in the short term, for long term benefits; and
- Ensure appropriate resourcing for planning to do its job.
“We are pleased to see Building Better Places addressing all of these factors.”
