Public participation in Town Planning From Rhetoric to Royston Vasey?

What do we mean by Participation? Notification Consultation Representation Co-operation Engagement

The Past i.e. Pre 1989 Participation has always been inherent - To variable levels Development Plans – right to object/make representations Applications - Letters to neighbours/Notices in the local paper T & CPA 1968 – introduction of Public participation in Plan Making 1969 (Skeffington Report) People and Planning Local Government Act 1972 – LA Reform DOE Circular 23/83 Information about Handling Applications Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985

Changing Times The Planning Acts 1990 PPG 12 Development Plans Representations -v- Objections Examinations in Public Parish/Community Council entitled to be informed Speaking in Committee Local Plans – community engagement

The Present White Paper, Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People (1998) Local Government Act promotion of wellbeing Sustainable communities: building for the future (2003) P & CP Act 2004 – Statements of Community Involvement Community Involvement in Planning: The Government’s Objectives, ODPM, 2004 Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development

The Present (2) Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Spatial Planning states that: ‘Community Involvement should be: appropriate to the level of planning from the outset – leading to a sense of ownership of local policy decisions continuous – part of ongoing programme, not a one-off event, with clearly articulated opportunities for continuing involvement transparent and accessible – using methods appropriate to the communities concerned; and planned – as an integral part of the process for making plans.’ It goes on to stress that: ‘The Local Council and the Local Strategic Partnership should take a strategic approach to community involvement.’

The Present (3) White Paper - Communities in control: real people, real power 2008 Act

The Future The Big Society Bonfire of the Quango’s Removal of Regional Structures Consolidation of PPS’s into one National Planning Statement Localism Bill Neighbourhood Planning

Some Thoughts Is participation in the planning process -valuable -worthwhile -effective -A Political Sop or a public right What role will planning play in defining the future for communities

Some Thoughts (2) Who sets the agenda? What forum do you use? Will technology help or hinder? Who is the final arbiter? Determining design/quality/scale etc Achieving conformity

Some Thoughts (3) Who’s in charge of public opinion Cross-cultural planning issues Cost -v- adequate representation Who and how will an evidence base be developed How will the less eloquent be heard How can a truly representative view be obtained and then adequately represented Will planning by ‘open house’ Committee really deliver to identified needs?

The Developers & Consultation Pre-Application Community Engagement from the outset Discussions about ‘a’ scheme not ‘the’ scheme Planning Gain -v- commercial reality

YIMBY OR NIMBY?

Thank You Ian Butter FRICS MRTPI Click on the Planning Library