Planning for the Future: Why we need courage to embrace radical change
Credit: Hawkins\Brown
Jessica Stewart, MD of Comm Comm UK, writes in response to the Government’s White Paper, published in August 2020, on proposed Planning system changes.
“I have read the White Paper Planning for the Future. Lots of thoughts have sprung to mind as I have worked through the pages and pillars that make up this rather exciting ideas paper.
“There is no doubt that changes to the planning system are needed, as I wrote in my Parliamentary Review article in January 2019 [link below]. We have had various bolt-ons over the past few years that have promised radical reform but haven’t got to the heart of the matter. This White Paper is choc full of ideas. Some are not fully formed or are naïve, and others will lead to inevitable reforms in other areas, such as a review of Green Belts or other protection status areas.
“I have read and listened to numerous other industry commentators’ views on the Paper and got the view that it was pie in the sky. I think many are fearful of what change could mean for them and their discipline within the industry. Funnily enough, I deal with fear of change within local communities on a daily basis. I am well versed (and hold a Masters in) conflict resolution and mediation. It takes effort and time to bring people with you.
“The forewords in the White Paper from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, by our Prime Minister and Secretary of State were confused and contradictory and demonstrated that either they, or the person who wrote them, don’t have a sound grasp of town planning. I was also disappointed that the team who helped draft the White Paper did not include any active town planners or public consultation companies. I often hear that there needs to be ‘more consultation’ but nobody ever asks us experts who are working in the field. Why is that? I think it is a lack of trust or a misunderstanding about what good practitioners actually do.
“However, in general I think many of its principles are laudable, its ideas are workable with more thought and now is the perfect moment in time to change the system, which was created to deal with post World War Two challenges. The world has moved on and we are dealing with our own version of post-war opportunities. There will never be a better time than now.
“One word of warning, about digital consultation. Covid has demonstrated that it can be done and very successfully. However, it can’t and shouldn’t replace on-the-ground discussions, where trusting relationships are forged. This is where conflicts are resolved and mediation allows understanding to be furthered and agreements to be delivered. The two can, and already do, work hand-in-hand to deliver meaningful engagement for a much wider group of people than have traditionally taken part in planning matters. This can only be to the good for new developments.
“My thought is that there should be enough work for everyone if we can unlock the decision-making process and speed up decisions. This White Paper can do that with a bit of finessing from those working at the sharp end. I hope other industry players do not take a protectionist view but embrace the overall direction of travel. No White Paper is ever going to contain fully formed policies. This is a consultation and one I hope everyone in the industry engages with – come on, let’s build, build, build.”
For Jessica Stewart’s full Parliamentary Review article, visit
https://www.theparliamentaryreview.co.uk/organisations/commcomm-uk