Shadow planning minister Keith Vaz will today unveil “Planning for Prosperity”, the Labour Party’s first review of the planning system in seven years.
The review document makes the following recommendations:
· Policy formulation
- The creation of an advisory committee to consult on the formulation of planning policy before draft PPG’s are issued.
- A rapid assessment by this committee of all existing PPG’s with a view to incorporating them in a single policy document.
Reform of Environment Secretary’s powers
- The retention of the Environment Secretary’s power to call in a planning application as long as detailed reasons for such a decision are made public. A strict timetable for this process would also be laid down.
Reform of the appeal system
- The introduction of a third party right of appeal against a decision. However, this principle would apply only where a local authority has an interest in the site under consideration and when a decision represents a departure from the development plan.
- The creation of a timetable for planning appeals and inquiries.
- Nationwide assessment of inspectors’ decisions to ensure consistency and conformity with national policy guidelines.
Reform at local level
- The introduction of measures to ensure that better notice is given to the public when an application is submitted.
- The installation of a mechanism to ensure the Chair of a Planning Committee meets with the developer before a plan is submitted for consideration.
- The introduction of rules and procedures for the disclosure of details of planning gain agreements.
- The updating of local plans every three years
The enforcement of planning decisions
- Flouting of planning law, where irreversible change is brought about, would become a criminal offence.
