Tories propose radical planning overhaul

The Conservative Party has unveiled a policy green paper that aims to achieve a “radical reboot” of the planning system.

‘Open Source Planning’ takes its name from the concept used in computer programming whereby developers have free access to a piece of software and are able to collaborate in its development. It outlines how this approach can be applied in the form of so-called “collaborative planning”, which aims to:

  • restore democratic and local control over the planning system;
  • rebalance the system in favour of sustainable development; and
  • produce a simpler, quicker, cheaper and less bureaucratic planning system

The introduction to the paper makes clear the Conservatives’ focus on a bottom up planning system. Rather than one centrally-determined planning structure applied across the country, it calls for “a planning system where there is a basic national framework of planning priorities and policies, within which local people and their accountable local governments can produce their own distinctive local policies to create communities which are sustainable, attractive and good to live in”.

It also makes some headline-grabbing proposals including the abolition of the Infrastructure Planning Commission, Regional Spatial Strategies and national and regional building targets.

To download a copy of the policy paper, click here.

Talking Landscape