News
New Planning Guidance to Promote Thriving and Vibrant Tourism
16th May 2006
A new guide which will help drive forward and support the tourism industry has been launched today by Planning Minister, Baroness Andrews and Tourism Minister, Shaun Woodward.
The new good practice guide sets out a planning framework for tourism - identifying which national planning policies are most relevant to the tourism industry and offering advice to local authorities and the tourism industry on effective working practices to achieve attractive tourism developments.
Welcoming the publication, Baroness Andrews said: "Tourism is of crucial importance to this country - supporting communities, providing millions of jobs, generating revenue and helping to maintain and improve important national assets. The planning system has a vital role to play in ensuring that new tourism developments contribute to prosperous communities which people want to visit and live. I am confident this guide will contribute to high quality and vibrant tourist developments in the future."
The new good practice guide replaces the existing national planning guidance for tourism, PPG21, and provides both planners and the tourism industry a more relevant guide on how to achieve high quality tourist developments.
Shaun Woodward, Minister for Tourism, said: "Cutting through red tape is one of my priorities as Tourism Minister. I want to see the industry thrive and prosper without burdensome regulation. This guidance is a great example of public and private working together to find the best solution for the tourism industry. We're directly addressing one of the industry's primary concerns, by putting tourism's interests at the heart of planning decisions and removing obstacles to investment. Both British businesses and visitors to Britain will be the winners."
The guidance identifies how the economic, social and environmental opportunities of the tourism industry can be realised through the development of suitably located tourism developments. It contains best practice examples and practical advice on how best to achieve this.
Brigid Simmonds, Chairman of the Tourism Alliance, said: "The Tourism Alliance very much welcomes this Good Practice Guide on Planning for Tourism. It is a clear acknowledgement of the huge importance of Tourism to the UK economy and the vital role planning has in the development and improvement of our tourism facilities. UK owners and operators have had difficulties with the planning system in the past. We very much hope that this Guide will help all those responsible for planning at a local and regional level to understand our sector and be proactive in their policies and plans."
Source: Department for Communities and Local Government
