Councillor Andrew Cooper Environment and Housing Programme Board

Changes Pre-determination rules…. Neighbourhood Planning…. Neighbourhood Development Orders…. Community Infrastructure Levy…. Community Right to Build…. Pre-Application Consultation… Financial Considerations….Duty to Co-operate….New Homes Bonus…. National Planning Policy Framework….Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development…. Local Plans…. Local Development Orders…. Use Classes Order…. Local Enterprise Partnerships…Enterprise Zones…Planning Fees…Planning guarantee….Enforcement….Viability

The NPPF – the LGA response Applaud the government for the reduction in guidance Reasonable transition arrangements are vital The three pillars of sustainability (economic, social, environmental) should be balanced.

LGA response – Independent input “It should be recognised that undeveloped land can have a sustained lasting economic value in terms of agriculture, tourism and amenity and can be strongly related to the quality of life of the people in the area.”

Key themes today Planning is for everyone Getting an up to date plan in place is the only way to ensure sustainable and planned development locally

Planning is for everyone “Councillors should be at the centre of neighbourhood and parish or town council discussions about new neighbourhood plans” Greg Clark March 2011

A community applies for a neighbourhood area to be designated Work up details with the community and Consult statutory consultees as appropriate If no parish or town council, a neighbourhood forum is designated Submit proposals to the local authority Independent Examination Local authority checks proposals Community referendum Make a plan or order If there is a parish or town council, they take the lead The local authority can help here A simple majority is required here LPA to advise on conformity with Local Plan and when/which statutory consultees to involve

A Councillor’s role “Working with the neighbourhoods –engage, –mediate, –lead –explain and help by managing expectations

Incentives When people know that they will get proper support to cope with the demands of new development; when they have a proper say over what new homes will look like; and when they can influence where those homes go, they have reasons to say “yes” to growth.”

However… Councillors identified public opposition as the top barrier to local housing development. They felt that support for housing development would double when accompanied by appropriate infrastructure.

The local plan If you haven't done so already – get your local plan in place now! This is a job for all elected members. LGA is lobbying for reasonable transition arrangements

Councillor Andrew Cooper – Twitter - Blogwww.greeningkirklees.blogspot.com

Questions for discussion What are the opportunities and challenges from your perspective engaging local people in planning? Both at plan preparation stage and also in response to planning applications? What can you offer in terms of support and how will you manage community expectations over neighbourhood planning? How will the NPPF impact on your local plan or your preparations to get one in place?

Questions for discussion How are you going to approach strategic planning issues, specifically about housing, that were previously covered by the regional strategy? What is your relationship like with neighbours and other bodies? Is there potential for agreement about some of the strategic issues? What support would be helpful for councillors from the LGA or the Planning Advisory Service?