Public participation Public participation in in

Town PlanningTown Planning

From Rhetoric to Royston Vasey?

What do we mean by Participation?

• Notification• Consultation• Representation• Co-operation• Engagement

The Past

• i.e. Pre 1989• Participation has always been inherent - To variable levels• Development Plans – right to object/make representations• Applications - Letters to neighbours/Notices in the local paper• T & CPA 1968 – introduction of Public participation in Plan

Making• 1969 (Skeffington Report) People and Planning• Local Government Act 1972 – LA Reform• DOE Circular 23/83 Information about Handling Applications• Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985

Changing Times

• The Planning Acts 1990• PPG 12 Development Plans• Representations -v- Objections• Examinations in Public• Parish/Community Council entitled to be informed• Speaking in Committee• Local Plans – community engagement

The Present

• White Paper, Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People (1998)

• Local Government Act 2000 - promotion of wellbeing• Sustainable communities: building for the future (2003)

• P & CP Act 2004 – Statements of Community Involvement

• Community Involvement in Planning: The Government’s Objectives, ODPM, 2004

• Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development

The Present (2)

• Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Spatial Planning states that:‘Community Involvement should be:

• appropriate to the level of planning• from the outset – leading to a sense of ownership of local policy

decisions• continuous – part of ongoing programme, not a one-off event, with

clearly articulated opportunities for continuing involvement• transparent and accessible – using methods appropriate to the

communities concerned; and• planned – as an integral part of the process for making plans.’• It goes on to stress that:

‘The Local Council and the Local Strategic Partnership should take a strategic approach to community involvement.’

The Present (3)

• White Paper - Communities in control: real people, real power

• 2008 Act

The Future

• The Big Society• Bonfire of the Quango’s• Removal of Regional Structures• Consolidation of PPS’s into one

National Planning Statement• Localism Bill• Neighbourhood Planning

Some Thoughts

• Is participation in the planning process- valuable- worthwhile- effective- A Political Sop or a public right

• What role will planning play in defining the future for communities

Some Thoughts (2)

• Who sets the agenda?• What forum do you use?• Will technology help or hinder?• Who is the final arbiter?• Determining design/quality/scale etc• Achieving conformity

Some Thoughts (3)

• Who’s in charge of public opinion• Cross-cultural planning issues• Cost -v- adequate representation• Who and how will an evidence base be developed• How will the less eloquent be heard• How can a truly representative view be obtained and

then adequately represented• Will planning by ‘open house’ Committee really

deliver to identified needs?

The Developers & Consultation

• Pre-Application• Community Engagement from the outset• Discussions about ‘a’ scheme not ‘the’ scheme• Planning Gain -v- commercial reality

YIMBY OR NIMBY?

Thank YouThank You

Ian Butter FRICS MRTPI

www.ruralurbanplanning.co.ukClick on the Planning Library