Government has begun the consultation process for key elements of the planning system. The Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: Reforms to National Planning Policy is due to close on March 02 2023 and is open for submissions.
Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of RTPI said:
“Today’s announcement of Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: Reforms to National Planning Policy consultation is a much anticipated and welcome opportunity for planners to inform how Government planning reforms intend to deliver levelling up in more detail.
“It includes proposals on immediate changes to planning policy, offers proposals for how the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill should be implemented and references potential longer-term changes to national planning policy. We welcome the fact Government appears to have understood uncertainty has been bad for the planning system and that a consultation like this for the public and our members is essential for a more stable system.
“The RTPI will be consulting its members widely across England in the new year to guide our response to the government on these and other important reforms.”
Currently the institute believes that the priorities for Government in this process should be:
- Climate/Environment: provide a suitable framework to meet the UK’s climate and environmental commitments, including through design codes, Local Environment Improvement Plans and other mechanisms to check that net zero targets are being met with appropriate action;
- Plans: add greater weight to the allocation of land in local plans when decisions are taken;
- Housing: provide sufficient housing supply by supporting high quality brown- and green-field development to support the growth communities expect from levelling up
- Devolution: incentivise devolved accountability for planning with greater freedoms in areas that want to innovate and experiment with planning policy to find what works for them;
- Infrastructure: better integrate plan-making with energy, transport and other infrastructure provision to support better connected and more sustainable development.
We will be holding regional roundtables for members to guide our response. Please click here for more information.
