We are avid readers of the planning portals mail-shots, fresh in today is the reform that the conservatives are proposing for the planning system.
We feel that this is a really important development. Our experience of planning departments shows that the system is over stretched and under funded. So change is vital for the system to maintain an effective and positive steering influence on the future of Britain built environment.
The removal of regional spatial strategies does have far reaching implications, as to whether these are positive or negative is yet to be seen. My viewpoint on the pros and cons are as follows:
Pros
Allowing local planning departments to choose what documentation is suitable for them to determine applications could remove excessive paperwork and free planners up to focus on the important things. Giving more credence to the local development framework of a district council gives departments a genuine chance to try and steer the architectural styles of towns and cities. This could lead to cohesive design and really nurture the sense of place that is more often than not missing from our towns.
Cons
As an architects practise the we are keen on the idea of unilateral planning documentation requirements. It should mean that we can standardise our approach making applications more easy to determine with a greater understanding of the proposal for the planners and general public. Allowing local development frameworks to develop there own specific brand of documentation requirements could make working in multiple districts unnecessarily difficult.
A greater concern would be that the district councils which are better funded in more affluent areas could become elitist in there decision making processes. The weight of the richer applicants could lead to unfair favouritism and potentially have the opposing effect on the less wealthy. This could occur in the form of a requirements for architectural styling, which may make it hard for individuals to afford to build.
We are very keen to get your thoughts on these matters please feel free to comment on our ideas.
The one item that disturbs us greatly is the term used “garden grabbing” this shows a complete lack of understanding in terms of sustainable development. Increasing intensification in intelligent and beautiful ways is the only way to avoid building on our green fields. Something the Ecotecture team feel very strongly about.
