The CLG has published a summary of responses to its consultation on planning policy statement 4 (planning for sustainable economic development).

This summary does not provide information on how the government intends to proceed although it does outline the responses of other respondents to the consultation.

Generally speaking, the RICS agrees with the majority of respondents that the policies set out in the draft statement achieve the right balance between the economic, environmental and social pillars of sustainable development and that other respondents also believe that there is an overwhelming level of support for placing a stronger emphasis on the need for evidence in plan and decision-making.

Nonetheless, the RICS differs from the majority of respondents in maintaining that the approach put forward by the government for locating and developing B1 offices is insufficiently flexible for meeting the needs of business whilst delivering sustainable development.

It remains the view of the RICS that the location of B1 offices should be linked to the provision of section 106 agreements.

RICS responded to the consultation on March 14 2008.

Key points from the submission:

• The draft planning policy statement contains few new proposals;
• More attention should be paid to how Local Development Frameworks and Supplementary Planning Documents can use evidence to plan positively and where changes can be made to ensure better delivery;
• The stronger emphasis on the need for evidence will raise significant resource issues for Local Planning Authorities;
• Authorities should not retain land for uses that are unlikely to come forward during foreseeable timescales. Instead, the objective should be to secure a suitable supply of such properties;
• All three pillars of sustainable development should be taken into account when making a decision (environment, economic and social).

Download the RICS position in full from the Word Downloads panel on the right hand side of this page.

For more information contact: Damian Cleghorn (dcleghorn@rics.org).