The government’s Planning Bill is currently going through Parliament. One of its aims is to ensure that projects ‘for the development of nationally significant infrastructure’ are authorised more quickly. Will this mean that the public will have less say in them? Below, the government insists not and, on the opposite page, Naomi Lhude-Thompson argues that public voices will indeed be marginalised.

It will be easier for the public to be involved, says the government

The Planning Bill will make the planning system quicker, more transparent and easier for the public to become involved in.

The Bill will reform the planning system for major infrastructure projects, which is increasingly struggling to deal with the challenges of the twenty-first century – housing, climate change, energy security, transport provision, and prosperity and quality of life for all.

It will establish a better system for dealing with those decisions, with opportunities for public participation locked into each stage of the process. It will also strengthen accountability and ensure decision-making is transparent and fair.

The changes are expected to bring the average time for decisions on major projects down to under a year, ending years of unnecessary delays on the infrastructure the country needs to take on the challenges of a modern world and help tackle climate change. On average £300m a year will be saved, nearly £5bn by 2030.

Present system simplified

The Bill will also simplify the local town and country planning system, improve the appeal process and put a duty on councils in preparing their local plans to take action on climate change.

A new single system, with strengthened accountability, will replace eight existing planning regimes. Ministers will, rightly, set national priorities for infrastructure following public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny, with individual decisions taken by a new independent Commission.

Equally, we are committed to devolving more decisions. It is right that decisions on local projects get taken locally, and new Local Member Review Bodies could handle minor appeal cases. Councils will also be able to set a charge so that developers contribute to infrastructure like schools, health centres and play areas.

Councils will have a new duty to take action on climate change when preparing their local plans.

National decisions

Major infrastructure decisions will have community consultation locked into every stage.

Under the Bill, Ministers will set national priorities for infrastructure following public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny. In drawing up the national statements, Ministers will be under a duty to contribute to sustainable development and to carry out an appraisal of their policy’s sustainability.

Developers will have a legal duty to consult the local community, local authorities and key stakeholders on their projects as they prepare them.

Planning inquiries will be made more accessible to the public, and the public’s right to be heard will be protected. The Bill will make it clear that any person who registers an interest can give oral evidence at relevant stages of the inquiry.

Decisions on applications will be taken by an independent Commission, consisting of leading experts from a range of fields, within a clear framework of legal duties set by Parliament and policy set by government.

Local decisions

The Bill will make it easier for homeowners to extend their homes. Planning permission will not be required for minor developments such as conservatories and small scale extensions where it is clear they have little or no impact on neighbouring properties.

It will allow householders to install small-scale renewable technologies – such as solar panels and wind turbines – without planning permission, subject to safeguards and standards to ensure there is little or no impact on neighbours.

The Bill will give local planners more flexibility when developing local plans and speed up plan-making by removing unnecessary bureaucracy.

It will enable local councils to apply a new charge to secure a contribution towards the costs of community infrastructure to deliver the development plan from landowners who benefit when planning permission is granted.

Faster, higher-quality decisions

Through quicker and high-quality decisions, the Planning Bill will help deliver on the government’s long-term vision for Britain in relation to climate change, protecting the environment and the need for new homes.

The new measures show that it is possible to deliver not only a faster and more efficient planning system, but high-quality decisions with greater community involvement.

There will always be controversial projects that stir opinion and require difficult judgements to be made. However, having a stronger system will ensure all opinions – particularly those of the public – are heard sooner. Making good judgements in less time is of benefit to everyone. Long-lasting stale¬mates that finally stagger to a conclusion are no good for anyone.

The Department for Communities and Local Government