A response to a consultation and plan-making reforms that ran from 25 July to 18 October 2023 has been issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The plan-making proposition discusses reforms to local plans, mineral plans, and waste plans.
These reforms are proposed to simplify these plans and make them easier to understand for all involved, including their local communities.
The plan-making proposition would make plans clearer
The intent of the consultations proposals are to allow those involved to understand plan-making throughout its process, as well as allow for more frequent updates from local authorities.
This would be achieved through use of newer digital technologies, skipping the need to skim through pages of documents in council office to find the relevant point. This would improve productivity and efficiency in the process of making plans.
312 respondents answered the question “Do you agree with the core principles for plan content? Do you think there are other principles that could be included?” Of those, 246 responded in agreement with the proposed reforms, while just 20 did not and 46 were indifferent.
This shows a large support for the reforms to make plan-making for local authorities more simple and accessible, as well as visual.
A large consensus was also found around establishing a Golden Thread for sustainability in plans.
The RTPI responded to the proposed reforms
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has responded to the proposed reforms from the consultation.
Dr Victoria Hills, chief executive of the RTPI, said: “Since coming into power, the Government has rightly put planning at the heart of its growth agenda. We welcome a focus on helping communities to better engage in the local plan making process. But if planners are to deliver the government’s ambitions, they’ll need to be backed by the necessary resources and clear guidance to deliver sustainable, vibrant communities for everyone.”
RTPI has previously called for more funding and transparency for planners, especially after the changes to the planning system being announced. Research by RTPI has previously shown that from 2009-2022, public spending on planning had dropped by 16%, and trends show a risk of losing £70bn.
Last October, the RTPI proposed a route map for local authorities to use in navigating housing targets, after the government set a target of 1.5m new homes by the end of their government.
The proposed route map would include a timeline with key milestones and actions, clarification on future boundaries for new strategic plans, and details on the financial and professional support that local planning authorities and strategic planning bodies can expect from the government.
