News

Landscape Institute response to Planning Reform Bill

27th November 2007

The Landscape Institute today (Nov 27) welcomed the Planning Reform Bill but warned that any attempt to speed up the planning process should not be at the expense of the quality of decision making.

The chartered body for landscape architects also called for a role for the profession on the proposed new independent commission on major infrastructure proposals, which is due to consist of leading experts from a range of fields.

Landscape Institute President Nigel Thorne said: “Landscape architecture is a holistic profession which ranges across environment, design, planning, construction and management. We welcome the establishment of an independent commission but believe it is doomed to failure without adequate reference to the skills of landscape architects. The commission needs the disinterested expertise of landscape architects.”

One of the chief tenets of the bill is the goal to make the planning system quicker, however Thorne warned a compromise on quality would lead to disastrous results.

Thorne said: “Speed should never become equated with efficiency in delivering projects. Good design stems from good information that is used intelligently to achieve lasting results. Time invested at the design stage leads to high quality public spaces. Where speed is likely to compromise this chain, consequential poor results can have serious long-term repercussions in terms of wasted investment, lack of public esteem and undesirable social consequences, including crime and vandalism.”

Under the proposed bill, local councils will be able to set charges on new developments to contribute to community infrastructure like roads, schools and hospitals. However, Thorne stressed the vital role green infrastructure must play in future schemes.

“Green infrastructure is integral to the sustainable development of housing provision and associated land uses. Green infrastructure creates green networks that will meet the increasing recreational needs of communities whilst delivering flood alleviation and water storage, adaptation to climate change, alternative transport routes and high quality landscape that supports varied activities,” he said.

The bill also calls for major infrastructure projects to tackle the problem of climate change – an issue landscape architects are already addressing. A recent survey of Landscape Institute members showed that 73 percent of landscape architects have successfully influenced clients to consider climate change issues.