News
New Planning Pilots Launched for Large Developments
24th January 2006
New pilot projects intended to improve and speed up the planning process for large and complex developments were launched today by Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper.
The Planning Delivery Agreement pilots will give greater certainty to developers over the handling of their applications, provide a project management framework for local authorities and ensure that local communities are properly consulted early on in the process.
Under the pilots, developers, local planning authorities and other stakeholders will work together with a commitment to an agreed project plan. This will set out a defined timeframe for a decision, highlight the resources and community engagement required, and ensure that sustainability and design standards are properly considered.
Yvette Cooper said: "There have already been great improvements in handling planning applications but too often very large applications take a long time to sort out, creating uncertainty for both developers and the local community.
"The planning system needs to do more to support sustainable development. By improving the process for handling these applications Planning Delivery Agreements will help to make the planning system more efficient so that community groups and developers alike know what the timetable is and where they stand."
The British Property Federation has also given its support to the pilots. Chief Executive Liz Peace said: "We believe it is entirely sensible to treat a planning application for a development just like any other business project, with a proper timetable, statement of resource requirements and an understanding of key deliverables etc. Consequently, we thoroughly support this initiative and would urge members of the development community to enter into these pilots with enthusiasm."
ODPM has been developing these proposals in partnership with the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) and the Advisory Team for Large Applications (ATLAS).
Also published today is Planning Delivery Agreements, a report by ATLAS which concludes that PDAs should make a significant contribution towards both the quality and pace of the planning process. ATLAS has also developed some guidelines to aid those taking part in the pilot.
Whilst improving and speeding up the process for determining large applications, Planning Delivery Agreements will not alter the outcome of decisions, each case is considered on its own merits and all of the current safeguards in the planning system will remain in place.
Following the pilot schemes an evaluation will inform future decisions on the use of Planning Delivery Agreements, which will also assess possible incentives for local authorities to take part. The pilot schemes will not be exempt from current timeliness targets.
