How can the Government's plans to bring business into the heart of neighbourhood planning work with communities asks Tony Burton, Director of Civic Voice
"The [Localism] Bill will enact new rights allowing local people to shape and influence the places where they live, revolutionising the planning process by passing power down to those who know best about their neighbourhoods."
Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark MP, 13 December 2010
Seven months is a long time in legislation. It was only last December that the Localism Bill was published amid a fanfare of radical decentralisation, communities "in control" and a "power shift" to those who know their areas best. New radical rights to draw up neighbourhood plans were unveiled and communities pricked up their ears and wondered.
One Budget and seven months of lobbying later things are looking very different. The rights to draw up neighbourhood plans remain. They can also cross council boundaries and fit what communities want rather than the accidents of administration. But the very purpose of planning itself is now being called into question. With the Localism Bill now being hotly debated in the House of Lords it is time to reflect on what the changes might mean.
From a focus on communities we are now seeing business put centre-stage. Planning policy is to be "pro growth", the default answer to development is "yes" , all planning decisions must take account of "local finance considerations" and neighbourhood forums can be established to prepare plans with the sole purpose of "promoting....businesses". Ministers have even backed a series of business-led neighbourhood plans which trust Business Improvement Districts from which even many businesses are excluded (let alone communities) to take the lead in their area. Will it be Tesco and not the community which takes the lead in the new era of localised planning?
Yet, anyone who has thought for even a moment about how to improve their area knows that the best outcomes can only be achieved where business and communities come together. Communities need the economic nous and investment only business can provide and business needs the knowledge and dynamism of communities which can also provide its market and its workforce. Locally there are fabulous examples of civic societies and local chambers of commerce working hand in hand to improve their area, give it a better identity and make it a better place to live and do business.
So where do we go from here? How do we tackle the mismatch in power and resources, build the trust and provide the support which creates a new alchemy between communities and business for the benefit of us all.
Level the playing field - all neighbourhood plans should be for the social, economic and environmental well being of everyone living and working in an area none for business alone
Provide the support - communities need much more support and advice and the business community would do well to consider Ministerial urging to establish a foundation to support communities develop their knowledge of land economics and the development process
Front-runner communities - a programme of community front-runner neighbourhood plans is needed to pilot the new approaches and go alongside the local authority and business-led front runners already announced
Make development plans sovereign - communities need guarantees that the time and effort they invest in a neighbourhood plan will not be wasted by seeing planning permission given for development which rides roughshod over their efforts - appeal rights for departure applications should be curtailed and a community right of appeal introduced where a local authority grants consent for a conflicting development which has not won community consent
Protect local services - the role of the planning system in supporting diversity in the High Street and a town centre first approach should be strengthened by requiring express planning consent for changes of use away from valued local shops - such as greengrocers and butchers - and services - such as post offices and pubs
Despite the cracks, the glass remains steadfastly half full on localism. Savvy businesses too know that their success increasingly relies on the trust and support of their communities. The opportunities are too great to turn away now.
Civic Voice is the national charity of the civic movement. Established in April 2010 it champions and supports the network of hundreds of volunteer-led community based civic societies across England. Civic volunteers are the most numerous participants in the planning system.