Planning reforms 'must be open to outside input'

The government's proposal to issue National Policy Statements (NPS) as part of its future house building plans must recognise the need for input from local communities, the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) has said.

While the TCPA welcomed the proposals, outlined in the government's Planning White Paper consultation, it has cautioned that the "right to be heard" remained paramount when making planning decisions.

The absence of the statutory right to be heard in planning decisions from the White Paper was concerning, the TCPA added.

"A key objective of the planning system must be to take forward and deliver the aspirations of the local, regional and national community for the improvement of towns, cities and countryside," commented Robert Shaw, TCPA director of policy and projects.

"We therefore consider that, where appropriate, decisions on major infrastructure developments should be taken by elected ministers and included in National Policy Statements, rather than by the proposed Independent Planning Commission which will not be directly democratically accountable," Mr Shaw added.

Last week housing minister Yvette Cooper announced that house builders and councils had signed up to an agreement to building 240,000 zero-carbon homes each year by 2016.


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