The government has announced an overhaul of the planning system, proposing local planning authority resources be put on a sustainable footing, local plans for every area, mandatory housing targets for councils, and reviews of green belt land. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said the consultation
Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), states national renewal of the planning system could have a significant impact on the planning profession and the UK economy. A recent report by Public First, commissioned by the RTPI, revealed that investing in planning could unlock £70 billion
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has written an open letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, emphasising the potential value to the UK economy that could be lost without investments into planning, and outlined the importance of planning to kickstart economic growth and address the UK’s housing crisis. Victoria
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has stated that, while it supports efforts to manage the UK’s housing crisis, policy interventions to get more people on the property ladder must come with adequate resources to the planning system. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said:
The National Audit Office has stated new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements have been launched without all the necessary elements for successful implementation. In February, as BNG laws came into effect, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) noted that 81% of planners in the public sector needed further ‘guidance, advice,
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has expressed its support for the government to build more homes on brownfield land. However, the Institute warns that new urban brownfield schemes must be closely monitored to ensure residents are not landed with poor quality homes or poorly planned developments that people wouldn’t
Planning professionals across the public and private sectors continue to report low levels of confidence in their ability to handle new Biodiversity Net Gain requirements in the planning process, according to a survey from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The measures, introduced under the Environment Act, come into effect
The government has announced an overhaul of the planning system, proposing local planning authority resources be put on a sustainable footing, local plans for every area, mandatory housing targets for councils, and reviews of green belt land. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said the consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which opened today, has the potential to rebuild trust in the planning system. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of RTPI said: “The proposed changes to our planning system outlined today have the potential to rebuild trust in our planning system. We believe that the government’s goals for housing, energy, and transport can be accomplished through collaboration with planners in both the public and private sectors. “It is particularly encouraging to see the government placing a much-needed emphasis on strategic planning, which can help deliver more coherent – not piecemeal – urban expansions by integrating new housing with transportation, energy, and public services. “The RTPI will begin consulting our members widely across England immediately to guide our response to the government on these and other important reforms.”
Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), states national renewal of the planning system could have a significant impact on the planning profession and the UK economy. A recent report by Public First, commissioned by the RTPI, revealed that investing in planning could unlock £70 billion in additional value for communities and the UK economy. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said: “The Chancellor has wasted no time in preparing plans that will have a positive impact on the planning profession and the UK’s economy. Her goals highlight the role of our planning system in boosting the UK economy, and mark a clear shift in the government’s understanding of what our system can provide. Our members should be under no illusion that this will put a focus on delivery across the planning system. “However, our members in local authorities are overworked and understaffed, and have faced years of severe strain. Economic success will therefore require proactive planning and an investment into our planning system.” On local plans and green belt: “It is promising to see the government begin its parliamentary term with policy changes keenly fought for by the RTPI, including universal coverage of local plans, and reviews of greenbelt boundaries. These changes will be essential for rebuilding trust and coordination in our planning system and for ensuring that new developments are done with local communities, rather than to them.” On reforming the National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF): ”The Chancellor outlined plans to reform the NPPF and restore mandatory housing targets. Our members have been clear that recent changes to the NPPF have left many councils, especially those with significant land constraints, with few incentives to deliver on existing housing targets. “Locally-determined housing targets that are well evidenced and aligned to a plan-led ‘vision’ can play a constructive role in planning for housing. However they must come with adequate investment in the infrastructure and planning services required to support them.” On onshore wind: “The minister has wasted no time in pushing forward reforms to the NPPF that the RTPI has long called for, including ending the ban on onshore wind and committing to consult on it’s return to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime. On the appointment of Matthew Pennycook as Housing Minister: “We will now work closely with Mr Pennycook to support the government’s ambitions by unlocking the power of the planning system. Throughout his time in opposition, the minister demonstrated a clear understanding of the value of planning, playing a positive role during the Levelling Up and Regenerations Act’s passage through parliament, and championing many of the amendments supported by the RTPI.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has written an open letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, emphasising the potential value to the UK economy that could be lost without investments into planning, and outlined the importance of planning to kickstart economic growth and address the UK’s housing crisis. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said: “The Labour Party has made the UK’s housing crisis a top priority during their campaign and has shown a strong understanding of the importance of planning. This change in government presents a unique opportunity for planners to demonstrate their value to the economy. “I have written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to discuss how planning can be a part of the solution, rather than the problem. I’ve outlined clear steps his government can take to help implement planning reforms that will help to ‘Get Britain Building’ quickly. This includes fast progress to restore funding for planning services, kick-starting stalled local plans, and ensuring the involvement of strategic direction at a mayoral level from day one. ”We enlisted the services of economic experts at Public First to demonstrate the economic impact of well-resourced, proactive planning. Our letter outlines their findings, demonstrating how our profession has the potential to kickstart economic growth and generate over £70 billion in additional value over the next 10 years. This would be achieved by stimulating local economic activity and creating well-planned communities where people can thrive. “We are at the beginning of Sir Keir Starmer’s first 100 days in government, and there is significant work ahead to address the key issues facing Britain today. Starmer’s party has emphasised the need for swift action on planning reform and the revision of the national planning policy framework. They will need to collaborate with planners to achieve their ambitions.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has stated that, while it supports efforts to manage the UK’s housing crisis, policy interventions to get more people on the property ladder must come with adequate resources to the planning system. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said: “We are currently dealing with a severe housing crisis, with an urgent need to build more affordable homes and help young people get onto the property ladder. “But we need to ensure these are the right homes, built in the right places. Our planning system, which would play an essential role in delivering these houses, can do more to make homeownership achievable and affordable, and to provide a wider range of affordable housing options. However, this can only happen if there is a step change in funding for the next UK Government provides funding to councils to deliver high-quality planning services” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The National Audit Office has stated new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements have been launched without all the necessary elements for successful implementation. In February, as BNG laws came into effect, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) noted that 81% of planners in the public sector needed further ‘guidance, advice, and support’, 68% of all planners needed more staff and skills, and 61% require more case studies of best practice, according to a survey of RTPI members. The RTPI is closely monitoring BNG’s impacts on the planning system. The Institute is encouraging members to share their experiences by filling out its BNG survey and sharing case studies of best practice. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI, said: “Our members in public and private sectors said that they felt unprepared for Biodiversity Net Gain in the lead up to its implementation. We worked to voice these concerns to the government, calling for clear guidance on BNG and sufficient resources to local planning authorities operating this new system. “We would like to see the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain succeed and are pleased that our engagement on this subject helped secure further funding for planning services to implement BNG. “However, the conclusions outlined by the NAO today reflect what our members have been consistently telling us for some time: that planning services have not been given sufficient guidance, advice, and support, and lack the staff and skills to avoid delays to an already stretched planning system. We strongly support the principles of BNG, but any new burdens to the planning system need to be adequately supported. “We agree with the recommendations made by the NAO. To facilitate local delivery, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs must ensure local authorities have sufficient funding, monitor the biodiversity units market, identify regional impacts, and work with planners and ecologists to coordinate best practice among local authorities.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has expressed its support for the government to build more homes on brownfield land. However, the Institute warns that new urban brownfield schemes must be closely monitored to ensure residents are not landed with poor quality homes or poorly planned developments that people wouldn’t want to live in. In its consultation response, the RTPI has emphasised the importance of ensuring that new market housing does not displace commercial, industrial, and logistics uses for brownfield sites that are critical for local economic growth. The Institute further stresses that brownfield and previously developed land can be more difficult to develop, and the government should take more proactive steps to help councils encourage this development. To facilitate this process, the RTPI has suggested that scaled-up Homes England funding for brownfield development, and support for local authorities to review and update their brownfield land registers could be instrumental in strengthening development pipelines quickly. The Institute also recommends that stronger mechanisms for strategic planning and public service provision could help make previously developed land better serve their communities in the long term. Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI, said: “We welcome the government’s drive to deliver more homes on brownfield land. However, it is crucial that new developments are well-planned and of high quality, and that they do not displace important commercial and industrial uses that play an important role in supporting sustainable mixed-use places including local economies. “With the right support and funding, we can ensure that brownfield sites are brought back into use in a way that benefits local communities and contributes to economic growth.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Planning professionals across the public and private sectors continue to report low levels of confidence in their ability to handle new Biodiversity Net Gain requirements in the planning process, according to a survey from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The measures, introduced under the Environment Act, come into effect today (12 February), and will require local planning authorities to assess and seek mitigation of the expected biodiversity net gain impact of planning proposals. However, an ongoing survey of our RTPI members found that: The updated figures show that 41% of public sector planners still cannot confirm whether they’ll have access to the necessary ecological expertise to comply with the new BNG requirements before implementation. This is a slight improvement from September’s report, where 61% of planners were uncertain. Victoria Hills, Chief executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said: “We made it clear to the Government that, without adequate funding, new BNG requirements could add disruption and delays in already overstretched Local Planning Authorities. While we welcome the additional resources from DEFRA, we feel that only time will tell whether this funding will be enough. “However, planners in the public and private sectors are still calling out for guidance, advice, and support to help them improve the biodiversity of new development from today. We’ve recently seen almost a thousand RTPI members sign up for a webinar on BNG in the hope of finding out information on the process and will be holding more events in the future to help planners implement these changes effectively.” The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has confirmed funding of £10.6m for next financial year. The RTPI has been advocating for additional resources since the proposal of these new requirements. While the Institute has welcomed the Government’s commitment to fund new burdens from the Environment Act, it remains uncertain whether the allocated funding will be adequate. Planners are encouraged to report any issues with the implementation of BNG using the RTPI’s survey. Input from RTPI members will help the Institute to provide Government with a detailed picture of the challenges planners face when implementing BNG. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
