On 8th June 2022, the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill went through its 2nd Reading in the House. The Bill seeks to prioritise urban regeneration and the use of brownfield land, strengthen local democracy, speed up Local Plans and secure planning benefits through a new Infrastructure Levy (replacing Community Infrastructure Levy) amongst other matters. As ever the devil is in the detail. the Land Promoters and Developers Federation’s observations resonated with that of Chapman Lily Planning’s Directors: ‘The Prime Minister’s speech has been valuable in pin-pointing some of the key issues of inter-generational disadvantage in housing and the growing shortfall in supply but fails to address the actual solutions in terms of delivering more Local Plans, which will release more allocations and in turn lead to more housing delivery through a genuinely plan-led system. The Royal Town Planning Institute had greeted plans for simpler infrastructure levy with caution, and there is a fear that it could prove too complex and hinder less well-off parts of the country.
Michael Gove MP has also announced that a new National Planning Policy Framework [“NPPF”] will be published in July. The new NPPF will introduce a set of national development management policies with a particular focus on environmental outcomes including net zero, tackling climate change, as well as continuing to govern heritage issues and the protection of green belt. Brett Spiller, Director at Chapman Lily Planning, welcomed the move: ‘A set of coherent national development management policies will avoid the duplication and reinvention at the Local Level helping to streamline the length of Local Plans and the time taken to prepare them.’ Brett added: ‘I hope that the NPPF will encourage Local Plans to link-in with broader environmental strategies. Nature recovery strategies are likely to have a spatial dimension and present a really exciting opportunity for planning to address the ecological emergency and facilitate access to nature, with all the well-being benefits that brings’. However, Brett was more sombre when it came to the tabled changes to the ‘duty to co-operate’, which currently forces neighbouring Local Planning Authorities to enter into a dialogue on strategic matters. It is to be replaced with a voluntary mechanism. Brett commented ‘the duty is often seen as synonymous with housing market areas and housing numbers. Whilst this grabs the headlines, the duty covers other strategic matters such as functional economic areas, landscapes and habitats that don’t stop at Local Planning boundaries’. The Royal Town Planning Institute has expressed concern that the complex new strategic planning mechanism risks halting development altogether.
Brett added ‘The pace of change has never been so great, in an industry that is already under significant resource pressure. However, as is often the case, there is both good and bad, frustration and opportunity. I am greatly enthused by the opportunity for the planning profession to assume a more pivotal role in delivering environmental outcomes.’
