Devolved systems

National legislation and regulation provides the framework within which the planning system operates in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The planning systems of the four nations and regions are becoming increasing different as devolution gives more powers to different administrations in the UK.

In England there are two key pieces of legislation which define the planning system.  The system of decision making at national level has been radically overhauled by the Planning Act 2008. The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 sets out the system of regional and local planning and the management of development that are described on these web pages.

The 2008 Planning Act - has fundamentally changed the rights and opportunities of communities to be involved in major national decisions – such as those on airports, power stations and roads. Further information will be added to this website shortly.

The new system provides communities opportunities to be involved in major projects at three stages.

1. Through public consultation by Government on new national policy statements;
2. The proposers of any new major projects are required by the Act to consult the public fully and a new Infrastructure Planning Commission can reject a scheme on the grounds that consultation has not been rigorous enough;
3. The Infrastructure Planning Commission will hold hearings into schemes and communities have the right to make representations to the Commission – although not the right to appear at them.

Much of this act is also relevant to Wales but Scotland has its own Act – the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006. Further material on the differences in planning systems and planning policies in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales may be added to communityplanning.net in due course.

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Policy purpose

In England, legislation sets two overall purposes for planning. These are ‘to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development’ and to ‘contribute to the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change’. It is worth bearing in mind these legal requirements when you are commenting on a proposal or putting forward ideas of your own.

The Government sets out its key policies for planning in England through Planning Policy Statements (PPS) and Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPG).

These sets of policies include advice on Housing (PPS3), Town Centres (PPS6), Rural Areas (PPS7) and Transport (PPG13). The Government’s overall objectives for planning are contained in Delivering Sustainable Development (PPS1) and its supplement on Planning and Climate Change. In addition, PPS11 and PPS12 set out the procedures for preparing Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) and Local Development Frameworks (LDFs). Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) are progressively replacing Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPGs) – although a number of PPGs remain. Links to all the PPSs and PPGs can be found on the Communities and Local Goverment website

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Key strategies

There are other key policy statements – notably the 2004 Sustainable Communities Plan:

The Department for Communities and Local Government also prepares strategies and delivery plans for key areas of growth and establishes a variety of mechanisms and special delivery vehicles (such as the East Northampton Urban Development Corporation or Cambridgeshire Horizons).

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Government bodies

A new Government sponsored body – the Homes and Communities Agency (http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/home), formed in December 2008, has responsibility for aspects of Government policy and implementation on housing growth, affordable housing and regeneration.

A National Body – the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU) (http://www.communities.gov.uk/nhpau/) – was launched in June 2007 to advise Government and the regions on the implications for the level and broad distribution of future house building.

National policy and housing targets are transmitted through the Government Offices for the Regions composed of staff from a number of Government Departments..

Central Government controls the cascading down of housing targets because Regional Spatial Strategies are ultimately approved by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

The Secretary of State also has the right to call-in applications which are of national importance or which raise significant issues or are more than locally controversial.

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Your opportunities

The way in which communities can formally get involved in English planning policy is normally through responding to consultations on national policy statements. The Government has a:

Other alternatives include going directly to your Member of Parliament, running your own campaign, or working with pressure groups who may have access to media outlets.

There are a number of websites which provide regular updates of progress on national policy. The Department for Communities and Local Government will e-mail you alerts about statements and consultations. The Government’s own Planning Portal and info4local websites give you access to a range of planning and local government information.

Websites of non-government bodies which are concerned about planning, such as the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Town and Country Planning Association will show you some of the campaigns and comments that others are making.

You can find out more about national planning policies at these websites:
England -  Department for Communities and Local Government
Northern Ireland - Northern Ireland Planning Service
Scotland -  Scottish Government
Wales - Welsh Assembly Government (Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru)

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