Planning challenges remain some of the biggest hurdles to development in the UK.
Just this week, Dave Ricks, chief executive of the obesity drug manufacturer Eli Lilly, has highlighted the negative impact that the UK planning system has on inward investment in the UK.
He warned that the current planning processes in the UK were an “impediment” to building factories at speed, unlike in the US and Ireland and chose to build a factory in another country altogether as a result.
With a General Election just days away and promises from both the Conservatives and Labour on planning, it remains to be seen what will happen to deal with the significant challenges faced in the UK planning system – from lack of resource in local planning authorities to housing and placemaking.
The Conservatives have pledged to build 1.6 million homes as part of their manifesto, but this will be questionable without new policies to improve the planning system. Meanwhile, Labour is promising a similar boost to housebuilding, but with it, a blitz of UK planning reform.
But what does the professional body representing planners in the UK – the RTPI – want to see?
Planning expert, James Williams, explores the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) “Planifesto 2024.”
The Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Planifesto emphasises the critical role of planning in enabling a sustainable, equitable, and economically resilient future which will be key to catalysing change and championing development. They want to see the new Government address five core areas which span everything from funding and clarity to empowerment and climate commitments.
Specifically, they are calling for Government to:
- Fund councils to deliver high quality planning services
- Explain where manifesto promises will be delivered
- Strengthen local plans to empower communities
- Work with local leaders to avoid piecemeal development
- Plan for net zero
At the heart of each of these is an overall desire for those in power to deliver on the following needs which the RTPI has identified as being integral to the future.
- Improve our quality of life and quality of places
- Promote sufficient, safe and sustainable homes
- Give places and their leaders the tools to grow
- Make what we have go further
- Unleash planning’s full potential