The British Property Federation has called for the next government not to push for a “radical rewrite” of the planning system, and instead focus on improving existing policies and structures.
In its planning manifesto, published ahead of next month’s general election, the BPF said the existing system does not function effectively when it comes to the “larger-than-local” planning required to deliver major developments, or in meeting the needs of housing growth or logistics and industrial facilities.
However, the BPF said a “radical reset” would create additional uncertainty, delay and complexity for the property sector, planning authorities and local communities.
The manifesto argues that the planning system instead needs greater resources to fulfil its crucial role in the wider economy as a gateway to economic growth and development.
The organisation said investors have been deterred by “an air of uncertainty hanging over our planning system for many years now”, stemming from a lack of resource and a “seemingly constant” round of consultations and proposals for change.
Six measures are proposed for the next government to adopt to improve the planning system:.
- Introduce strategic planning to drive growth in the right locations, establishing a “larger than local” approach as a requirement in the National Planning Policy Framework;
- Promote greater stability in the planning system by allowing the emerging local plan system to bed in;
- Further public and private investment in the planning system, recognising that an efficient planning system is a gateway to wider economic growth and regeneration;
- Abandon the flawed Infrastructure Levy and focus on improving CIL and s106;
- Start a new conversation on the green belt, which focuses on quality not quantity, moving beyond “an obsession” with protecting historic boundaries;
- Plan for all forms of housing need with the reintroduction of binding targets for assessing housing need. The NPPF should also specifically support rental sector housing delivery by being insistent on local authorities planning for rental homes, student and older peoples’ needs.
Claire Dutch, head of UK real estate practice at Ashurst and chair of the BPF planning committee, said: “Planning should be an enabler of growth and the ultimate objective has to be to get the UK building again. While some say we need a radical reform of the planning system, we believe that the objective is best achieved by improving the current system, rather than ripping it up and starting again.
“That’s why we are proposing evolution rather than revolution, with a six-point plan to strengthen strategic planning and cooperation, ensuring the system has adequate resourcing, introducing a standard method for assessing housing need, scrapping the Infrastructure Levy and enhancing CIL/s106, allowing the local plan system to bed in, and having a genuine conversation over the role of the green belt.”
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