Forum Brief: Queen's Speech - Planning

John Prescott will be responsible for a new planning bill in the next session of parliament.

Announced in the Queen's Speech, the measure promises to speed up the planning system while improving the involvement of local communities.

Forum Response: Local Government Association

Jeremy Beecham, chair of the Local Government Association, said: "While some of the proposals in the bill will be supported, we are extremely concerned about the loss of democratic accountability both over some planning application decisions and particularly over the reduction in the role of county councils.

"The government's intention for a clear national framework is right. But we need a system that allows plans to be drawn up at speed, not in haste.

"County councils play a major part in the public life of the country; they have a statutory role in education, social care and transport and for the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of their counties.

"It is essential that these issues are addressed and balanced across whole county areas. Leaving county councils out of the planning role undermines their role and responsibilities."

Forum Response: Federation of Small Businesses

A spokesman for the FSB said: "The FSB welcomes measures to speed up planning approval for commercial premises but will monitor the reforms to ensure small businesses are not rail-roaded into paying for infrastructure improvements they disapprove of."

Forum Response: Construction Products Association

Allan Wilen, economics director at the CPA, told ePolitix.com: "We were pleased to see the introduction of a planning and compulsory purchase bill. Too many desperately needed public infrastructure projects are held up by the UK's existing arcane planning laws.

"This bill aims to remove much of the current bureaucracy in the system to make the planning process much simpler whilst maintaining community participation."

Forum Response: The Woodland Trust

Dr James Cooper of the Woodland Trust told ePolitix.com: "We are concerned that the government's proposals for speeding up the planning system will lead to even less protection for our natural heritage.

"We believe that at present the government's thinking on this issue is too focussed upon economic concerns and not enough upon the equally important needs of the environment. This would seem to be at odds with references elsewhere in the speech to protection of the environment.

"Sustainability and environmental protection must lie at the heart of any proposals for the future of the planning system."

Forum Response: RICS

A spokesman for RICS told ePolitix.com: "RICS welcomes the announcement of the planning bill. The planning system is in need of a thorough and comprehensive overhaul, and RICS supports the government's efforts to achieve the necessary reforms.

"However, RICS is concerned at the decision to take forward the bill while there are still large holes in the government's programme for change. The reform of the system of planning obligations requires substantial further discussions, the Law Commission has still to consult on the procedures and powers of compulsory purchase, while several other consultations are live.

"The lack of preparation on these issues leaves a number of questions to be answered before the bill is introduced. The current reforms are probably the last chance to introduce major changes to the planning system for a long time.

"The government must get them right first time - to fill in the gaps at a later stage would be short sighted and to the determent of the planning system. In the meantime, there are many reforms that can be achieved now, without primary legislation, and we would encourage the government to carry these forward."

Forum Response: CABE

A spokesman for CABE told ePolitix.com: "CABE welcomes measures announced today to make our urban areas better and safer places to live. Reforms to the planning system are to be warmly welcomed."

Forum Response: ACCA

A spokesman for ACCA told ePolitix.com: "ACCA is hopeful that measures proposed in this area will genuinely streamline the planning process for businesses, cutting out the bureaucracy and excessively long planning process which is currently in place."

Government Response: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

"The fundamental objective is to make the planning system fairer, faster and more predictable. We want to bring clarity, certainty, and a sense of strategic direction to planning.

"Our proposals will open up the planning system, reduce bureaucracy and increase community participation right from the start of the process. Without an effective planning system we risk constraining the economy, at a cost to everyone in the UK."