Introducing Planning Systems BPLN0069
Content
Introduction: The Meaning and Purpose of Planning 1-5
The European Context for UK Planning 5-8
The National Context: Policy Development and 9-14
Political Agendas
Devolution in Great Britain and Difference in Planning 14-17
Regional Planning 17-19
Local Development Planning 20-24
Development Management 24-28
Public Participation in Planning 28-310
Introduction: The Meaning and Purpose of Planning
What is planning?
Image of bureaucracy – “Our appallingly Stalinist planning system, encouraged by a
nasty alliance of bureaucrats and NIMBYs” (Daily Telegraph)
Imagery of things forced on communities – “The local community has no say in
anything that happens and, as a result, trusts nobody. They’ve lost all faith in the
planning system” (The Guardian)
Press representations:
Planners come in for criticism as well as planning:
“narrow-minded pen pushers” (Daily Telegraph)
“a bunch of jobsworth, frustrating the liberties of the free-born Englishman”
(The Times)
Popular culture:
Negative stereotypes abound, e.g. Charles Jennings However, planning is fundamentally
“The public’s perceptions of town planning are important as the system through
stereotypical and at least 25 years out of date” which the state controls and manages
(Tewdwr-Jones, 1999: 132) space
For this purpose, planning:
Is future orientated, about devising strategies for desired end states
Is primarily a public-sector process seeking to influence activity through guidance,
regulation and incentives
Focus on the physical environment
Physical environment:
The general objective for planning with a spatial In British terminology,
component is to provide for a spatial structure of “planning” means planning as
activities (particularly land uses) which in some way is an administrative system – the
better than the pattern which would exist without “planning system”
planning (Hall, 2002)
1
, Introducing Planning Systems BPLN0069
Objectives, policies and processes:
Organisations responsible for management of the built and natural environment agree
on policies and programmes to instigate change, promote sites and prepare for
development
A response to externalities that arise from land-use changes
A process through which aims and objectives for future development of land are
debated and agreed
Consequent determination of land-use according to objectives
Conflicts over space:
Objectives may in in conflict (economic growth, social cohesion, better quality
environments) – planning attempts to reconcile these in public interest
Aims to deliver “sustainable development”
Look at the Egan report
Sustainable development:
The definition can be contested “sustainable development is development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs” (Bruntland, 1987)
It is about balancing the needs of economy, society and environment
Applied Geography:
Planning can also be understood as “applied geography”
This is concerned with the application of geographical knowledge and skills to
the resolution of real-word social, economic and environmental problems
(Pacione, 1999)
Planning as environmental management
A social science
A profession:
Planning system administered by planners, a group of trained professionals
In the UK and Ireland, they are usually members of their professional body, the RTPI
RTPI definition “planning involves twin activities – the management of the
competing uses for space, and the making of places that are valued and have
identity” (RTPI, 2009, online)
Importance of context:
Important to see planning in social, political and economic context
“Planning systems are rooted in the particular historical, legal and physical conditions
of individual counties and regions” (Cullingworth and Nadin, 2006: 10)
Planning about state control of the physical environment, essentially, but the state
differs across Europe, e.g. common law, unwritten constitution \
Context not fixed, e.g. local government reforms
Primarily public:
2
, Introducing Planning Systems BPLN0069
John Prescott “the planning system has allowed us to avoid the extent of sprawl and
environmental damage you can see in countries such as the USA”
Public principles:
Ultimately planning is about the public interest
Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian principle of “the greatest good for the greatest number”
Debate about greater efficiency of private sector (e.g. Pennington 2002) versus
dangers of giving market free reign
British planning:
System administered primarily by professional officers in LPA – local councils and
National Parks
Political context: definitions
England “the purpose of planning is to help achieve sustainable development”
Scotland “the planning system has a vital role to play in delivering high-quality places
for Scotland”
Wales “the planning system manages the development and use of land in the public
interest, contributing to improving the economic, social, environmental and cultural
well-being of Wales”
Origins:
19thC industrial problems; early proponents Ebenezer Howard and Patrick Geddes
1909 first Town Planning Act
1913 Town Planning institute
Pressure Groups: Town and Country Planning Association (1899) and Council for the
Protection of Rural England (1926)
Patrick Abercrombie’s Greater London Plan (1944)
1947:
Labour Government post-war introduced comprehensive town and country planning
system 1947 Town and Country Planning Act
1947 Act first to provide legal tools necessary for the practice of planning
Nationalised development rights – development rights with the State rather than
landowners
Product of welfare state seeking to redress inequalities of income through a mixed-
economy framework
UK planning today:
Local level: development plans (policy) and development management
LPAs must produce comprehensive development plans for the area. The development
plan is an agreed set of principles, a vision, to guide decision makers on the future of
the built environment
3
, Introducing Planning Systems BPLN0069
Development plan is policy based
Development management: 1947 act nationalised right to develop land. Must apply
for permission
Enforcement of planning decisions and planning legislation
Operated by professional planners, advising politicians, mediating and negotiating
between public and private interests
Planning policy “ladder”:
European scale
Central government
Regional level
Local government
The people/communities
Actors in the planning system:
Supra-state: European Parliament, European Commission
National state: parliament, government, courts. A range of government departments
(in England: BIS, DCLG, DfT, DEFRA, DCMS, HM Treasury)
Quangos: Environment (Natural England, SNH), heritage (CADW, Historic England,
Historic Scotland), housing (Communities Scotland, Homes and Communities
Agency), economic development (LEPs, Scottish Enterprise), design (CABE)
Local state: politicians, planners, councils
Private sector and groups: architecture, developers, farmers, landowners, surveyors,
planners
Voluntary and sector groups: NGOs, national pressure groups, civic amenity groups,
environmental movement, think tanks, political parties (Civic Trust, CPRE, FoE,
Greenpeace, RSPB, TCPA)
The public: individuals and communities, groups (e.g. Civic Trusts)
Planning in action: issues
Visioning for the future (and who is involved)
Regional inequality/balance of development
Provision of infrastructure (social and physical)
Allocation of land for housing
Urban regeneration
Conservation of built and natural heritage
Promotion of sustainability, dealing with climate change
Summary:
Planning less about technical expertise and more a “peopled process” involving
professional values and judgements as well as a “political process”, a partnership of
elected representatives, public participants and planners embedded in a wider system
of government”
The European Context for UK Planning
4
Content
Introduction: The Meaning and Purpose of Planning 1-5
The European Context for UK Planning 5-8
The National Context: Policy Development and 9-14
Political Agendas
Devolution in Great Britain and Difference in Planning 14-17
Regional Planning 17-19
Local Development Planning 20-24
Development Management 24-28
Public Participation in Planning 28-310
Introduction: The Meaning and Purpose of Planning
What is planning?
Image of bureaucracy – “Our appallingly Stalinist planning system, encouraged by a
nasty alliance of bureaucrats and NIMBYs” (Daily Telegraph)
Imagery of things forced on communities – “The local community has no say in
anything that happens and, as a result, trusts nobody. They’ve lost all faith in the
planning system” (The Guardian)
Press representations:
Planners come in for criticism as well as planning:
“narrow-minded pen pushers” (Daily Telegraph)
“a bunch of jobsworth, frustrating the liberties of the free-born Englishman”
(The Times)
Popular culture:
Negative stereotypes abound, e.g. Charles Jennings However, planning is fundamentally
“The public’s perceptions of town planning are important as the system through
stereotypical and at least 25 years out of date” which the state controls and manages
(Tewdwr-Jones, 1999: 132) space
For this purpose, planning:
Is future orientated, about devising strategies for desired end states
Is primarily a public-sector process seeking to influence activity through guidance,
regulation and incentives
Focus on the physical environment
Physical environment:
The general objective for planning with a spatial In British terminology,
component is to provide for a spatial structure of “planning” means planning as
activities (particularly land uses) which in some way is an administrative system – the
better than the pattern which would exist without “planning system”
planning (Hall, 2002)
1
, Introducing Planning Systems BPLN0069
Objectives, policies and processes:
Organisations responsible for management of the built and natural environment agree
on policies and programmes to instigate change, promote sites and prepare for
development
A response to externalities that arise from land-use changes
A process through which aims and objectives for future development of land are
debated and agreed
Consequent determination of land-use according to objectives
Conflicts over space:
Objectives may in in conflict (economic growth, social cohesion, better quality
environments) – planning attempts to reconcile these in public interest
Aims to deliver “sustainable development”
Look at the Egan report
Sustainable development:
The definition can be contested “sustainable development is development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs” (Bruntland, 1987)
It is about balancing the needs of economy, society and environment
Applied Geography:
Planning can also be understood as “applied geography”
This is concerned with the application of geographical knowledge and skills to
the resolution of real-word social, economic and environmental problems
(Pacione, 1999)
Planning as environmental management
A social science
A profession:
Planning system administered by planners, a group of trained professionals
In the UK and Ireland, they are usually members of their professional body, the RTPI
RTPI definition “planning involves twin activities – the management of the
competing uses for space, and the making of places that are valued and have
identity” (RTPI, 2009, online)
Importance of context:
Important to see planning in social, political and economic context
“Planning systems are rooted in the particular historical, legal and physical conditions
of individual counties and regions” (Cullingworth and Nadin, 2006: 10)
Planning about state control of the physical environment, essentially, but the state
differs across Europe, e.g. common law, unwritten constitution \
Context not fixed, e.g. local government reforms
Primarily public:
2
, Introducing Planning Systems BPLN0069
John Prescott “the planning system has allowed us to avoid the extent of sprawl and
environmental damage you can see in countries such as the USA”
Public principles:
Ultimately planning is about the public interest
Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian principle of “the greatest good for the greatest number”
Debate about greater efficiency of private sector (e.g. Pennington 2002) versus
dangers of giving market free reign
British planning:
System administered primarily by professional officers in LPA – local councils and
National Parks
Political context: definitions
England “the purpose of planning is to help achieve sustainable development”
Scotland “the planning system has a vital role to play in delivering high-quality places
for Scotland”
Wales “the planning system manages the development and use of land in the public
interest, contributing to improving the economic, social, environmental and cultural
well-being of Wales”
Origins:
19thC industrial problems; early proponents Ebenezer Howard and Patrick Geddes
1909 first Town Planning Act
1913 Town Planning institute
Pressure Groups: Town and Country Planning Association (1899) and Council for the
Protection of Rural England (1926)
Patrick Abercrombie’s Greater London Plan (1944)
1947:
Labour Government post-war introduced comprehensive town and country planning
system 1947 Town and Country Planning Act
1947 Act first to provide legal tools necessary for the practice of planning
Nationalised development rights – development rights with the State rather than
landowners
Product of welfare state seeking to redress inequalities of income through a mixed-
economy framework
UK planning today:
Local level: development plans (policy) and development management
LPAs must produce comprehensive development plans for the area. The development
plan is an agreed set of principles, a vision, to guide decision makers on the future of
the built environment
3
, Introducing Planning Systems BPLN0069
Development plan is policy based
Development management: 1947 act nationalised right to develop land. Must apply
for permission
Enforcement of planning decisions and planning legislation
Operated by professional planners, advising politicians, mediating and negotiating
between public and private interests
Planning policy “ladder”:
European scale
Central government
Regional level
Local government
The people/communities
Actors in the planning system:
Supra-state: European Parliament, European Commission
National state: parliament, government, courts. A range of government departments
(in England: BIS, DCLG, DfT, DEFRA, DCMS, HM Treasury)
Quangos: Environment (Natural England, SNH), heritage (CADW, Historic England,
Historic Scotland), housing (Communities Scotland, Homes and Communities
Agency), economic development (LEPs, Scottish Enterprise), design (CABE)
Local state: politicians, planners, councils
Private sector and groups: architecture, developers, farmers, landowners, surveyors,
planners
Voluntary and sector groups: NGOs, national pressure groups, civic amenity groups,
environmental movement, think tanks, political parties (Civic Trust, CPRE, FoE,
Greenpeace, RSPB, TCPA)
The public: individuals and communities, groups (e.g. Civic Trusts)
Planning in action: issues
Visioning for the future (and who is involved)
Regional inequality/balance of development
Provision of infrastructure (social and physical)
Allocation of land for housing
Urban regeneration
Conservation of built and natural heritage
Promotion of sustainability, dealing with climate change
Summary:
Planning less about technical expertise and more a “peopled process” involving
professional values and judgements as well as a “political process”, a partnership of
elected representatives, public participants and planners embedded in a wider system
of government”
The European Context for UK Planning
4
