Planning - The Effective Way Forward
Friday, April 27, 2007
by
Murray Shaw
The process of implementing the Planning Etc (Scotland) Act 2006 is firmly under way. The energetic approach of the Executive prior to the Bill being produced appears to be continuing with significant parts of the Act have already been brought into effect and the draft subordinate legislation likely to be produced in the relatively near future allowing the key parts of the legislation to be implemented by the middle part of 2008.
It was always recognised that as well as legislative change however there had to be a change of culture in respect of the planning system (which involved a change of attitude within and amongst those who use the planning system) to achieve the objective of securing a planning system that was fit for purpose, efficient, inclusive and sustainable. Indeed many commentators observed that given the objectives which the Executive had set for the planning system it was impossible to see how these could be achieved without that critical change.
The Executive have now produced a document entitled “Modernising the Planning System Unlocking Planning’s Potential” which tackles that very issue. The document carried the logo of a number of key “stakeholders” including the RTPI, COSLA, Homes for Scotland and the recently formed Scottish Property Federation.
As well as identifying the changes that need to be made to ensure that the system is modernised on a complete and coherent basis this forward looking document identifies how changes can be made on a partnership basis. It identifies what the Executive “will do” and equally what the RTPI and planning authorities will do to support the aims and objectives which the Executive have set. This document is indeed welcome. One slight concern is that the document notes that both COSLA and the Scottish Society of Directors of Planning “in principle” support the changes to be made. Hopefully the use of the words “in principle” do not suggest anything other than wholehearted support for the process that the planning system in Scotland is currently going through.
The final part of the document identifies “what can other stakeholders do to help?” Amongst these stakeholders are applicants, developers, consultants, communities, consultees and planning schools. The identification of the last of these is particuarly interesting given the difficulties which the planning schools in Scotland have faced with funding over the past couple of years.
If the changes to the planning system are to work support is required from all sectors. To use a cliché it is a “two way street” so far as the change of attitude is concerned – in other words those who use the system to secure planning permissions need to change their approach to the planning system as much as many planning authorities. Successful developers need to realise this and accept it. One issue developers frequently complain about is that planning authorities do not understand the economics of development. It is interesting to note that specifically this document challenges developers to help planning authorities understand that very factor and other factors which influence their decision making. If the development industry can find a suitable way of doing that that could well be a huge step forward to a more constructive and effective engagement with planning authorities.
This is an innovative and welcome document. The fact that specific steps and challenges are identified for all participants in the planning process has to be correct. Given the new obligations upon developers to communicate with the public and the steps which this document identifies we truly seem to be reaching a stage where the approach for developers is going to have to be significantly different. That change will have to be reciprocated if the Executive’s objectives are to be secured. Those developers who make the changes are in reality more likely to be successful and hopefully those who make the changes will be rewarded by a system which does achieve the objectives being fit for purpose, efficient, inclusive and sustainable.