Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Box 19.1
The nature of local spatial planning
Source: DCLG 2007 Draft PPS12 para 2.1
Spatial planning is a process of place shaping and delivery. It aims to:
• Produce a vision for the future of places and communities that responds to the
local challenges and opportunities, based on evidence and community derived
objectives, within the overall framework of national policy and regional strategies
• Translate this vision into a set of priorities, programmes, policies, and land
allocations together with the public sector resources to deliver them
• Create a framework for private investment and regeneration that promotes
economic, environmental and social well-being for the area
• Coordinate and deliver the public sector components of this vision with other
agencies and processes [e.g. LAAs and MAAs]
• Create a positive framework for action on climate change.
This approach cannot be fulfilled simply through passive operation of the regulatory
system but requires a more pro-active stance by planning authorities and greater
attention to 'delivery'. One of the procedural changes designed to promote this is the
requirement for authorities to produce an annual monitoring report indicating the
extent to which the policies and targets set out in the new plans are being achieved.
In practice planners are being challenged to work more effectively with other agencies
in achieving desired outcomes. Arguably however they are being presented with
responsibility without commensurate power. Indeed responsibilities are being added to
all the time and the Government's latest articulation of aims for local spatial planning
incorporates the not-insignificant task of providing a positive framework for action on
climate change (Box 19.1)!
Whilst reforming the planning system the Government is also in the process of
introducing other mechanisms for delivering outcomes which are not encumbered by
the rigours of direct political accountability, public examination and elaborate legal
safeguards. In both political and delivery terms this overlapping of responsibilities
and proliferation of ad hoc multi-agency arrangements does not ease the planning
task! The increasing complexity of governance also does not make for transparency
and for public involvement in, and comprehension of, decision-making processes.
Yet, as we will see, development planning itself is being tasked with greater attention
to community involvement, both in the process of plan preparation and in the link
between development plans and community strategies.
19.4 Local Development Frameworks
A key feature of the new development planning system in England is that district,
unitary and London Borough councils, instead of being required to prepare a single
'local' or 'unitary' plan for the whole of their area, prepare and progressively add to a
portfolio of separate documents, as appropriate to their circumstances. This is intended
to provide greater flexibility in both form and timing. The more important elements
can be introduced more quickly and professional resources used more effectively by
being phased over successive exercises.
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