In 2007 RICS was integral in leading the Government’s thinking on the future of planning.

This was manifest in the RICS’ Future Planners project and its subsequent workshops and conversations with high level Cabinet Office and CLG officials.

Following its launch in Spring 2007, RICS was pleased to see many of its recommendations represented in the Planning White Paper.

RICS had another bite of the cherry when responding to the Planning White Paper: Delivering a Sustainable Future.

In November 2007 the Planning Bill was outlined in the Queen’s Speech. The Government made it clear that it wanted to push through the Bill as soon as possible.

Progress has been rapid and at every juncture RICS has been well placed to offer advice and support to Government and the Opposition.

RICS has been working with likeminded professional bodies, in particular the RTPI, in providing a critique of the Bill and also amendments to the Bill.

RICS supported RTPI’s evidence session at the Public Bill Committee with special attention on the Community Infrastructure Levy.

The Bill in Brief:

RICS believes that the Planning Bill goes someway towards rationalising the planning system, particularly with regards to the implementation of major infrastructure projects.

However, the institution has concerns about the lack of detailed content in the Bill and is working to ensure that both RICS members’ expert views and the public interest are considered.

Below are our views on each of the main components of the Planning Bill:

The introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) RICS has focussed its efforts on influencing the detail of the CIL. The Bill provides very general enabling powers for CIL.

It issued a further paper on 24 January 2008. This paper outlined the basics of who would be paying CIL, what it would pay for, and how it would be collected.

RICS would like to see further detail included in the Bill to show Governments explicit commitment to providing adequate infrastructure to enable sustainable development.

RICS is working closely with government to ensure that both the policy and practice are clear and capable of delivering the government’s stated aims.

With this in mind we are calling on Government to:

• Define the function of CIL
• Clarify the remit of charging authorities, and in particular the role of Regional Development Agencies
• Ensure development viability is an explicit consideration, particularly with regard to Regeneration areas
• Recall the Planning Gain Supplement (preparations) Act of 2007

The introduction of the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) and National Policy Statements (NPS)
The multiple consent regime currently required to implement major infrastructure projects is being streamlined, and a new commission is being formed which will have the authority to consider and approve major infrastructure projects.

These decisions must have reference to the newly-created National Policy Statements (NPS) for nationally significant infrastructure.

RICS has proposed that an NPS should be created to ensure that flood planning and defences are included on the list of nationally significant infrastructure.

As the climate of the UK changes it is increasingly important that there is a joined-up approach to flood defence provision, rather than the current regionally-based system.

RICS is broadly pleased with the way the IPC is being set out and in principle support the NPSs.

However, we have told Government that there should be a National Infrastructure Framework, which would provide horizontally integrated policy for infrastructure across the sectors, as well as a map of current and proposed infrastructure provision.

This would also help to ensure that the sustainable development goals are reached in an effective and holistic manner.

Finally we have called for greater clarity on the role of developed assemblies, particularly in the case of significant infrastructure that crosses national boundaries.

Changes to the existing system
Government has recognised that some aspects of the Local Development Framework (LDF) system have not been as successfully implemented as initially hoped after the passing the 2004 Act.

RICS supports most of the changes to the system as they will simplify the LDF process, providing greater certainty for developers, while ensuring that the sustainable development objectives of the system are met.

That said we are opposed to the introduction of Local Member Review Bodies (LMRB) outlined in the Bill.

We have written a joint letter, along with the RTPI and RIBA, to that effect and are continuing our work to have all statutory references within the bill removed.

We believe that the LMRBs would deny some applicants the right to an independent and expert appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

LMRBs would also be expensive and complicated to administer.

For these reasons we are working with RTPI and RIBA to ensure that they are not implemented.

Further information
If you would like further information or have questions about the Planning Bill please contact:

Louisa Collyer-Hamlin
RICS UK Public Affairs Manager
E lcollyer-hamlin@rics.org.