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Winchester T: 01962 893 893 F: 01962 893 883
London T: 020 7812 6490 F: 020 7812 6677
info@remarkable-engagement.co.uk
Find out more about Localism visit localism-agenda.com
The government has published further details of the National Planning Policy Framework, confirming consultation will take place in 2011 but announcing a pre-consultation period for initial submissions.
In a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) published on Monday, Greg Clark, Minister for Decentralisation, invited "organisations and individuals to offer their suggestions to the department on what priorities we might adopt to produce a shorter, more decentralised and less bureaucratic national planning policy framework". Deadline for proposals is 28 February 2011.
The WMS confirms that the framework will set out the government's "priorities for the planning system in England in a single, concise document covering all major forms of development proposals handled by local authorities". The document will combine all the national planning policies currently set out in PPSs, MPSs, PPGs and MPGs (comprising over 1,000 pages) into one single document, streamlining the system.
The WMS notes: ‘The Government believe that the current suite of planning policy statements and guidance notes is too centralist in its approach, and too long and cumbersome for councils and developers to use effectively. There is no over-arching integrated statement of the Government's priorities for the country and the role which planning can play in delivering them."
The framework will also establish some policies which were widely expected to be included in the Localism Bill, published last week, such as a presumption in favour of sustainable development. Other measures that were included in the Bill, such as neighbourhood plans, will be expanded, with the framework containing ‘any further policy needed to establish and implement' them.
In the WMS, the government states the framework will be:
The framework will be subject to scrutiny by a select committee during the consultation period, the full details of which will be published in 2011.
In a separate WMS published on Monday, Greg Clark confirmed that decisions on infrastructure of national importance will in future be taken by the relevant Secretary of State, following the abolition of the Infrastructure Planning Commission as set out in the Localism Bill.
The WMS states: ‘The Government are determined to ensure that a return to ministerial decision-making does not mean a return to slow and protracted consideration of applications. It supports the fast-track approach established through the 2008 Planning Act, that is to say that decisions will be taken within 12 months of commencement of an application's examination. We will set up a ministerial group to oversee the effectiveness of the regime and explore whether additional efficiencies can be made to speed up the process further.'
The WMS also confirms that national policy statements will have to be approved by Parliament following the enactment of the Localism Bill. The WMS states: ‘National Policy statements will continue to be the primary documents by which decisions are made on schemes which fall within the 2008 Planning Act regime for major infrastructure. Decisions must be made in accordance with them, although the Secretary of State will also have to take into account any other matters considered both important and relevant to the decision.'
