Contact: Michael Gossage, RIBA South West Strategic Partnership Coordinator
Tel: 0844 800 2767 Email: michael.gossage@inst.riba.org|
Policy Update: Planning Bill success
The RIBA has made huge leaps forward this year convincing the Government to take design seriously. Through lobbying from the RIBA the Government agreed to amend the Planning Bill so that all major infrastructure projects, such as an airport or new rail project, will have to outline their design criteria from the outset this should ensure that the UK produced infrastructure projects of the quality of the Millau bridge and Madrid airport.
But most importantly we have convinced the Government to amend existing Planning legislation (Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004) so that Local Authorities must actively promote good design. This is a huge leap forward and really shows that the Government is starting to have a genuine comprehensive programme on improving design quality.
We will now be working with the Government in the implementation of this duty. First step will be for the Chief Planner to write to all Local Authorities to encourage them to take further positive action to achieve good design. The Government will be considering what further support can be given to them and others in delivering good design—for example, through design panels, the new Homes and Communities Agency and Regional Development Agencies.
The Minister Baroness Andrews said: “I have indicated to the House that we are committed to achieving good design and to supporting local planning authorities and others through strong partnership programmes.”
The Killian Pretty review of planning applications is also due out shortly and we are assured that this will have many of the ideas and messages that RIBA members fed into the review.
Killian Pretty Review of Planning Applications
It is still apparent from correspondence to the regional office and to Portland Place from members that the perceived inefficiency and lack of clarity of the current planning application system remains a hot topic in practice at the moment. The CLG has commissioned a review of the Planning Application System (The Killian Pretty Review). The RIBA was invited to make a submission to the Review Team at the commencement of their work, to set out our concerns about the planning application system and to make some initial recommendations. The submission was co-ordinated by the RIBA Planning Group and the RIBA Practice and Policy Departments.
The Killian Pretty Review Team has issued an initial analysis of the issues and a call for solutions. The RIBA will be putting together a response to this latest call for solutions by 5 September. RIBA South West will be liaising with local members in obtaining actual case study examples of the problems faced by users of the planning application system and ideas for real solutions which we can put forward. Any information which can be provided by local branches or individual members would be gratefully received, and would be of great help in formulating our submission. Please do send us significant case studies in a brief format so we can work with our colleagues in London to drive an improvement in the planning system.
Further information about the Killian Pretty Review can be found at: www.planningportal.gov.uk/killian_pretty_review|