Major changes to planning system announced in Spring Budget

As expected the UK chancellor George Osborne has used his budget to announce some major changes to the UK planning system, which he called a 'chronic obstacle to economic growth'  with the aim of encouraging development for economic gain.


The changes include relaxing planning regulations to try and kick start house building, following many years of  declining numbers of new homes constructed.  The fear for many here is a increase in greenfield sites swallowed up for development, there is also a fear that the government will remove guidelines specifying density levels which could lead to overcrowded residential areas.


Local planning authorities have also being given a 12 month time limit for the processing of ALL planning applications, including appeals. This may be fine for a rural authority but in a urban borough with many major applications in at once this will surely be a tough ask. 


Enterprise zones have also made a welcome comeback, the first of which will be located in Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester Airport, Liverpool, The Tees Valley, Nottinghamshire, The Black Country, London, Derbyshire and the West of England.


Each enterprise zone will feature simplified planning processes as well as discounts on businesses that choose to locate in these areas. Critics have argued they simply run the risk of simply shifting businesses from one area to another.

Vince Cable Blasts UK Planning System

Vince Cable the UK business secretary has attacked the UK planning system, (1) calling it 'slow and prescriptive' and a major barrier for businesses, with what he describes as a presumption against development in many cases. He said that 'thousands of 'no decisions have prevented economic growth, for example the retailer regenerating a town or international headquarters moving elsewhere. 


Mr Cable also reveals that through speaking to major corporations  keen to invest in the UK, many were put off with the time consuming process of the current system. 


Mr Cable is proposing the re-introduction of Enterprise zones which were highly successful in the 1980s, through streamlining planning system in these areas and launching tax incentives for business.  


The UK has a strong planning system which ensures development is appropriate and that over development does not take place, all development is considered on its merits and relationship to policy and thus I cannot help feel that many planners will find Mr Cable's initial comments hard to digest; no planner would refuse a scheme if they felt it was of  the best interests of the area for development to take place.


Perhaps the biggest problem that the UK planning system faces is a 'fear' of development amongst many committee members, who will go against planning officer advice, leading the council and taxpayer into a costly battle against businesses and developers. 


With regard to  simplified planning zones, this is a sensible idea and one that has shown to have worked both in the UK and across Europe, notable examples include the London Docklands and Manchester Castlefield districts.