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Planning Bill
Implementing proposals of the planning white paper the Bill will streamline and improve the planning regime. It includes provisions to introduce a single consents regime for major infrastructure projects and improve the town and country planning system. The Bill also includes a new statutory planning charge to enable councils to capture greater levels of planning gain to support new infrastructure and housing as stated by Yvette Cooper in a written ministerial statement last month.
The Bill is based on recommendations of two well-respected studies; the Barker and Eddington reviews. It is also important for the implementation of government policy on housing, energy and transport and could therefore be one of the first Bills to appear in November.
The Opposition agree that the planning system needs reform, however, some MPs argue that the Bill will increase the democratic deficit of the planning system. Critics argue that the public have been sidelined so that the government can fast track the implementation of energy and transport projects, which may have a detrimental impact on the environment.
Hazel Blears opened second reading debate on the Planning Bill in the Commons on December 10 2007.
Communities and local government secretary introduced the details of the Bill stating that it will “reform the planning system to make it fairer, more efficient and ready to equip Britain for the challenges of the 21st century.”
In response to interventions from MPs highlighting concern over how say the public will have in the planning process, Blears argued that “under the Bill there will be more accountability and a better place for the public to have a good, substantial debate” about the need for national infrastructure.
It will provide three opportunities for public involvement when the national policy statement is drawn up, before developers before submit their planning application they will have to consult, and when the inquiry actually takes place.
The Bill will also set up a new independent infrastructure planning commission. It will simplify the planning system for minor home improvements.
In conclusion, she argued that the “Bill will provide for a fairer and faster planning system—one that delivers for the economy and the environment, and that gives everyone a fair chance to have their say”
Shadow communities and local government secretary, Eric Pickles, agreed that there was a need to speed up the planning system but believed that the new infrastructure planning commission (IPC) was undemocratic and unaccountable.
He argued that the opposition wanted to “take the best out of the Bill and build on the strengths of the existing and familiar system.” He argued that the planning system needed modernising “not destroying.”
Liberal Democrat shadow local government minister, Tom Brake, recognised that the way large planning applications are dealt with need to be improved, however, believed that the IPC was “not suitably accountable and not suitably legitimate.” He pledged that the Liberal Democrats will fight the government’s centralising tendencies and will fight for local communities’ right to have their views heard.”
Sir Paul Beresford (Con, Mole Valley) intervened early arguing that the Bill was very short on detail asking for the definition of a nationally significant infrastructure project.
John Healy, minister for local government, wound up for the government arguing that the Bill “will reform the planning system to make Britain better able to cope with the 21st century. It will speed up decisions and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.”
Progress
House of Commons
First reading: November 27 2007 [HC Bill 11]
Second reading: December 10 2007
Planning Bill committee stage:
Remaining stages: no date
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