Many will have heard the saying “fail to plan, plan to fail”.
The link between planning and success has been demonstrated time and again. It is therefore dispiriting that the characterisation of spatial planning as a process over the last few years has become ever-more negative. Ask different groups, be they business, political or local communities, and you are likely to search long and hard to find a champion willing to stand up for the planning system.
There is a narrative that characterises planning as a complicated and unaccountable process, presenting needless obstacles to growth. Conversely, some communities promised more power through a reformed planning system find a system that doesn’t empower them, but rather delivers in their view unwanted development. This was illustrated by the presence of protesters at the opening of MIPIM UK demanding homes for people and not for profit.
When asked at MIPIM UK what changes I wanted to see in the planning system my response was, and is: take a step back and look first at the role of planning and what it should, or indeed could, be and consider the alternative.
In my view a planning system, however imperfect in practice, is essential; it has a vital role to play balancing the public good with private interest. To lose sight of that is foolish. For English Heritage reconciling public interest, as demonstrated by national designation (for example, listing or scheduling), with the private interests of owners is at the heart of conservation and the planning process is therefore essential. The majority of our historic environment is in private hands, each owner being a steward with a responsibility to hand the asset on to future generations that can enjoy and value it in turn.
However, no system can deliver in isolation and for the planning framework to work effectively it relies on the exercise of judgment. One of the recurring concerns raised with me by property professionals at MIPIM UK has been the diminishing resources available to local authorities. The failure to recognise the need for a well-resourced planning department with confident and experienced staff increases risk to delivery of development by slowing the process and increasing costs. The failure to appreciate that planning is more than development control, and to understand that proactive planning is essential to expand opportunity, is one of the biggest mistakes made by government in recent years.
The planning system should absolutely be about helping to deliver economic growth, and a well-planned environment adds value to property. But it also helps to deliver other benefits as well. However, to achieve this we need another narrative about planning – it needs a re-affirmation of its importance from government, nationally and locally supported by long-term resourcing. In return, the investment must produce the motivated and importantly, respected professionals that can help deliver what we all need.
The idea of positive proactive planning that helps to deliver truly democratic places, allowing the widest access to the greatest number of people, is surely one that we all should be supporting.
Nigel Barker is planning and conservation director London at English Heritage
