Property sector welcomes planning shake-up

THE most radical shake-up of the planning system to take place in decades has received broad support from the North West’s property sector.

The new National Planning Policy Framework is a simplified, 50-page document which replaces more than 1,300 pages of inherited policy and provides guidance to local councils in drawing up their own local plans and on taking decisions on planning applications.

The government said the new framework establishes “a powerful presumption in favour of sustainable development” which should underpin all local plans, but also guarantees robust protection for areas of green belt, national parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

CBRE’s senior planner Bernadette McQuillan said: “It is encouraging that the government haspressed ahead with the NPPF, despite criticism from ill-informed NIMBYs.

She added that the framework gave “greater clarity” on planning policy, which will give greater encouragement to international investors to invest in UK property.

John Cosgrave, managing director of Warrington-based housebuilder Arley Homes, said that he hoped the changes would “drive up standards and quality in designa and build”.

“I don’t expect the changes will signal a ‘free for all’ or concreting of the countryside, nor would that be desirable. It is in everyone’s interests for development to be respectful of the existing natural and built environment, and be influenced by local stakeholders.”

Gary Halman, partner at Manchester-based HOW Planning, said the framework “strikes a clever balance between environmental protection and stimulating much-needed development”.

“A number of changes, such as reinstating the encouragement for brownfield land and stressing the continued protection of the Green Belt will pacify those who felt the original document was too pro-development.

“But its central message is clear: planning has to move from a negative, restrictive process to a much more positive and proactive means of getting the economic growth and development the country really needs.”

Alistair Crowdy of GL Hearn described the new framework as “unashamedly a plan to help secure economic growth through a positive approach to the planning process”.

“But we should not be mistaken by thinking this is a fight between good and evil. The checks and balances are there to ensure that appropriate interests are protected.”

Burnley-based planning consultancy Kirkwells argued, however, that the policy represented a major U-turn by the Government.

It said the government had backtracked on many points in the draft, such as attributing pre-eminence to economic considerations when considering developments. Measures to protect the countryside and the prioritising of brownfield sites had also been included in the final version following consultation.

Policy director Michael Wellock said: “Although the Government have performed a significant U-Turn, with all the associated short-term political costs, the long-term benefit will be felt across the country.

“Hopefully, projects stalled whilst we waited on the outcome of the consultation process will now get a shot in the arm.”

Mike Holliss of Manchester-based planning consultants hollissvincent said the government had “significantly watered down” its draft proposals, accepting 30 of the 35 recommendations put forward by the Communities and Local Government Select Committee.  

Altrincham-based consultancy McBains Cooper said it feared the new system could actually slow development.

Director Mark Leeson said: “The planning system has now changed in a significant way, but the people involved in it will find the changes difficult to adapt to as a result of the need for greater interpretation because the policy is now far more general.

“Whilst it is far better for local issues to be resolved locally, communities and officers serving them need to be prepared for the change, and they are clearly not prepared yet. A set of more simple guidelines do not mean a more simple process.”

Local authorities now have a 12-month transition period in which to adopt the new framework into local plans.