The Planner - May 2020 by The Planner

MAY 2020 CORONAVIRUS: PLANNING ADAPTS TO LOCKDOWN // p.4 • PETER BARBER, LOW RISE RADICAL // p.24 • CO DESIGN AND COMMUNITIES // p.28 • PLANNING AND REMOTE WORKING TECHNOLOGY // p.33 • NATIONS & REGIONS: SOUTH WEST // p.36

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EXTERNAL DOORS GROUND FLOOR

PAT T E R N PENDING WILL PLANNING REFORM ENABLE THE SYSTEM T O D E L I V E R G O O D D E S I G N C O N S I S T E N T LY ?

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CONTENTS

MAY

4 NEWS 4 CORONAVIRUS: Planning adapts to the unprecedented 8 Big promises made on shake-up – but few facts

10 How feasible is ‘levelling up’ the UK?

OPINION

12 Clearer planning system needed to address housing crisis

16 Louise BrookeSmith: Keep smiling through

13 Crown Estate Scotland’s blueprint targets coastal development

18 Kate McClean: Biodiversity net gain: barrier or opportunity?

14 Decline in planning decisions and applications in England

18 Jason Pomeroy: Going beyond the triple bottom line to secure a sustainable future

19 Mark Southgate: The homebuilding revolution must start with the young 19 Andrew BaddeleyChappell: Custom-build can create a virtuous housing circle

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“I THINK THE MORE LIVES THE HOUSING CRISIS TOUCHES, THE MORE SUPPORT THERE WILL BE FOR THE IDEA OF A PROPERLY PLANNED HOUSING ECONOMY”

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“LIMITING THE NUMBER OF TAKEAWAYS IN GATESHEAD ISN’T GOING TO CURE OBESITY, BUT IT IS ONE SMALL – AND EFFECTIVE – ACTION WITHIN A WIDER EFFORT TO TACKLE OBESITY LEVELS” COUNCILLOR BERNADETTE OLIPHANT ON THE UPSHOT OF A KFC PLANNING APPEAL BEING REJECTED IN THE TOWN

33 CORONAVIRUS: A snapshot of planning’s new reliance on communications technology

20 The government has hinted at planning reforms ahead of a white paper. Will they prove a help or a hindrance to good design? Simon Wicks asks the questions 24 Peter Barber designs housing that is economical in its use of space and money, but also liberating concern for the most vulnerable in society, says Matt Moody 28 Nicola Homer explains co-design – the principle of working equally with citizens on the design of buildings and places

QUOTE UNQUOTE

INSIGHT

FEATURES

36 Nations & Regions: The South West

38 Cases & decisions: Development decisions, round-up and analysis 43 CORONAVIRUS: How planning law is responding to COVID-19 44 RTPI round-up: News and interviews from the institute 50 Under lockdown, we cast a wider net over the online activity landscape this month

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NEWS

Report { CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

Planning adapts to the unprecedented By Laura Edgar

It has been a strange month leading up to the 10th April press deadline for this issue of The Planner, and much has changed. Coronavirus (Covid-19) began spreading rapidly in the UK in the middle of March, and the subsequent nationwide lockdown saw oﬃces emptying as entire professions moved to adopt new ways of working. Meetings, conferences and training events were quickly moved wholesale on to digital platforms (see ‘The Reality of Virtual’, page 33) while the planning professions in each UK country moved to embrace entirely new and more constricted ways of working. As The Planner went to press, that process was continuing. The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has issued detailed advice on how appeals can still be progressed, as has Scotland’s Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA), while Northern Ireland’s Planning Appeals Commission has been closed. The UK Government rushed through the Coronavirus Act 2020 in under a week. This makes provisions for planning committee meetings to be held virtually, and regulations have been issued to enable this to happen. Here, The Planner has produced a timeline of the key planning policies, changes and advice issued between 17 March and the May magazine deadline, 11 April.

Temporary legislative changes Sarah Fitzpatrick, head of planning at Norton Rose Fulbright, considers the issues emerging from a profession dealing with lockdown

Ensuring public participation in committee meetings The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 allow for remote vote casting or

participation by video or telephone, but it is up to local authorities to decide how meetings should be conducted so as to ensure that applicants and objectors still have speaking rights. These could be written submissions only, or delivered via Skype or Teams or Zoom, or read out over the phone.

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PLAN UPFRONT The Planner is maintaining a routinely updated guide to policy changes and Covid-19 news online: bit.ly/planner0520-RollingNews

PINS issues guidance about site visits, hearings, inquiries and 12/3/2020 events in England and Wales, in line with the government’s advice on social distancing and staying at home. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick tells planning 13/3/2020 authorities not to carry out enforcement action that would “result in unnecessarily restricting deliveries of food and other essential deliveries during this period”. Northern Ireland’s planning minister Nichola Mallon writes 14/3/2020 to local authorities to make it clear that they should temporarily hold back on planning enforcement action that could result in restrictions on deliveries of essential products, including food and medicines. The government announces that planning regulations in 17/3/2020 England will be relaxed so that pubs and restaurants can operate as hot food takeaways. Scotland’s chief planner John McNairney and planning 19/3/2020 minister Kevin Stewart write to councils about the relaxation of enforcement regarding pubs and restaurants offering takeaway services.

There will probably be changes to the ability to speak, although this may require changes to some local authorities’ constitutions. I think speaking at committees for many authorities will be changed into written submissions with deadlines relating to when they have to

be submitted. These submissions will probably need to be uploaded to the council’s portal for planning applications and be accessible to officers and councillors, as well as other members of the public. Before this, local authorities will need to think carefully about what goes to

The legislation for the relaxation of planning regulations in 24/3/2020 England is made oﬃcial on this day. The temporary permitted development right will end on 23 March 2021. England’s chief planner Steve Quartermain encourages local planning authorities to use technology to continue their services, and ensure that discussions and consultations can go ahead. Northern Ireland’s Planning Appeals Commission is closed. All arrangements for submission of evidence and proceedings are suspended and appeals are to be dealt with by written representation for the foreseeable future. Scotland’s DPEA local development plan and appeals casework will continue, albeit through written representations. Technology such as Skype will be used to facilitate hearings and inquiries. Rushed through Parliament, the Coronavirus Act 2020 makes 25/3/2020 provisions for “persons to attend, speak at, vote in, or otherwise participate in, local authority meetings without all of the persons, or without any of the persons, being together in the same place”. Ireland’s planning minister Eoghan Murphy announces a package of planningrelated measures to make it easier to put up temporary health facilities and remove

committee and what can be decided under delegated authority. Some may look at changing their constitution in order to bring more types of application into their scheme of delegation. Some local authorities have already moved all applications to delegated determination. There’s going to be a decline

in applications getting to committee. Ensuring effective public participation in the planning process. Although the profession will find it reasonably easy to access things remotely and respond on behalf of clients, my concern is that particular

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Report { the need for change of use permission for restaurants that want to operate as takeaways. Northern Ireland’s Department for 27/3/2020 Infrastructure announces its intention to remove the requirement for pre-application community consultation events. The Irish Government approves immediate 29/3/2020 changes to the planning system, which will allow more time for public participation in planning applications. This will be extended by three weeks. This new time frame will also apply to planning appeals.

31/3/2020

Welsh housing minister Julie James introduces temporary

demographics of society may be much less able. Ensuring they will not be prejudiced will be the most difficult challenge for local authorities. The High Court is likely to be sympathetic to such a challenge if someone is genuinely prejudiced. Local authorities are going to have to be more creative in how they ensure that the public can participate. Previously, they may have just put committee meeting dates and an agenda on their website, and a link through which you could register to speak. Now they may have to publicise more widely across social media platforms so that as many people as possible know these remote meetings will go ahead and how they can participate. I

permitted development rights to allow local authorities to change the use of buildings without planning permission, including to hospitals. The COP26 UN climate change crisis is 1/4/2020 postponed until 2021. It was due to take place in Glasgow this November. The dates for the conference are yet to be announced. The Scottish Parliament votes in favour of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill, which then receives Royal Assent. It extends any planning permission – including planning permissions in principle – that would lapse within the next six months so that they do not expire until April 2021.

think the current challenges our society is facing will drag local authorities into the 21st century. There may be positives coming out of this in terms of how the world deals with decision-making in a digital age. Time frames for developers to: start building out consented developments; apply to vary conditions; discharge conditions There will be a backlog of applications and we will see longer determination periods for almost everything. Normal timescales for determination are eight, 13 or 16 weeks, but I do not think government will expect local authorities to stick to these determination periods during the outbreak. It may take longer for developers to get pre-

Regulations required for English local authorities to 3/4/2020 hold public meetings virtually are published. Local authorities are still required to make meetings accessible to the public. In a letter, McNairney and Stewart explain that they intend to bring forward emergency regulations in Scotland to suspend the requirement to consult face to face on major and national developments. Prospective applicants are expected to replace this requirement with an alternative online version. A temporary permitted development right takes 9/4/2020 eﬀect in England “to allow local authorities and health service bodies to carry out development, both works and change of use, of facilities required in undertaking their roles to respond to the spread of coronavirus”. It is due to expire at the end of 2020.

commencement conditions discharged, which in turn may put pressure on developers where permissions are about to expire. There is the ability to implement a permission in advance of precommencement conditions being discharged, which implementation the courts have said can be lawful if the works undertaken are in accordance with the details submitted and the details are later approved. Another option is for developers to trigger the process for deemed discharge of planning conditions, but it would be worth discussing this with the local authority in advance as the process can lead to refusal. Another option to consider is making a s.73 application to vary precommencement conditions

so that these are no longer pre-commencement or allow a certain amount of works (demolition, for example) to be undertaken before the pre-commencement trigger bites. If a developer has a permission that is about to expire there is always the ability to do a technical implementation of the permission, and do substantive works at a later date.

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RTPI CEO: Covid-19 a potential ‘game changer’ for plantech The profession’s adaptation may result in changes to how planning is carried out within local authorities as newly embraced tech tools become the norm, according to RTPI chief executive Victoria Hills. At the decision-making level, says Hills, “it’s an absolute game changer. You’re seeing councils now running committee meetings via tools such as Zoom, GoToMeeting, Microsoft Teams – and they’re not going to want to go back to sitting in council chambers sitting up till 11pm or 12pm at night”. “The potential for wider participation, and for a greater diversity of councillors, is phenomenal,” continued Hills. People previously put oﬀ because of

The bar is set pretty low in terms of what works can amount to implementation of a permission. Lawful implementation can always be confirmed by a CLEUD/CLOPUD application at a later date. Developers will need to remember that apart from the need to discharge precommencement conditions, implementing a planning permission can also trigger s.106 obligations and payment of CIL. During the last financial crisis the government introduced the ‘Greater Flexibility for Planning Permissions’. We still have the benefit of some of the statutory amendments that were brought into force (s.96A applications and applications for minor

a need to be physically present at out-of-hours meetings may be keener to participate if virtual meetings are popularised. “That new level of engagement is going to be quite key.”

material amendments under s.73), but the ability to apply for a new permission to replace one due to expire is not something that is still in force. At the moment s.73(5) prevents applications (in England) from being made to extend time periods for implementation. For new permissions we may see the government either provide guidance to local authorities or legislate that longer periods be given for new permissions to be implemented. I am already negotiating for five-year consents where the developer would previously have been happy with three. n This Q&A is abridged for print. The full version can be found here: bit.ly/planner0520-Fitzpatrick

HOW AUTHORITIES ARE ADJUSTING

Local planning authorities have begun making provisions that allow decisions to be made and committee meetings to be held. These are just some of the ways local authorities are adapting: n Waltham Forest Council’s planning committee granted planning permission for a 750-home scheme in Leyton at a virtual planning meeting. For the meeting, councillors on the planning committee met in a committee room where they maintained social distancing, as set out in government guidance to address the spread of Covid-19. All other participation was conducted through Microsoft Teams. Cabinet member for housing development Simon Miller said: “At one time around 60 people were taking part and the meeting was a great success, showing the ingenuity of council staff to use technology to deliver democracy during the current Covid-19 emergency.” n Manchester City Council’s chief executive has been delegated the power to decide planning applications. Joanne Roney will also make decisions on listed building consent and tree preservation order applications. According to a council business continuity arrangements document, the delegated authority is to be “exercised in consultation with the director of planning, building control and licensing and with the chair and deputy chair of the committee when both are available, and either if only one is available”. n Pembrokeshire County Council has approved measures that mean officers will be able to decide planning issues, including all planning applications normally considered by the planning committee. A protocol accompanying this move allows for the cabinet member with responsibility for planning, as well as the chair and vice-chair of the planning committee, to see and comment on the case officer’s report and any proposed conditions or terms. There will be a 72-hour period for these members to consider, comment and if necessary, object to what is proposed. In some circumstances the decision could be referred to the council’s urgency committee. The new arrangements will be in place for two months and will cease when the planning committee is able to reconvene as usual or is able to meet remotely.

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NEWS

Report { PLANNING REFORMS

Big promises made on shake-up – but few facts Latest government planning reforms are high on bold statement but low on details, finds Huw Morris In the end, the reforms generated some heat but little light. The government’s Planning for the Future paper contained no major surprises, building principally on promises made in last year’s Conservative Party manifesto. The lack of detail to drive real change was noticeable. A case in point is the government’s pledge for a digital transformation of the planning system. A bold statement, but one followed by little elaboration. “This sounds like an easy solution at first glance – but much of the current planning process is already done digitally, so we lack any detail on what this actually means for making the system faster and more efficient,” says Peter Canavan, associate partner at Carter Jonas. Elsewhere, big contradictions were obvious in how to balance planning controls with speedy and efficient delivery, particularly good design and extended permitted development rights (PDRs). “The government will need to reconcile its plans to encourage good design by strengthening planning policy – as laid out by y the Building g Better, Building Beautiful Commission’s report – with initiatives, such as extending PDRs, which are intended to speed d up delivery through gh deregulation,” says ys Rapleys planning partner Jason Lowes. wes. The government nt aims to publish a “bold d and

ambitious” white paper in the spring. The planning sector will have to wait for that to put ﬂesh on the bones. Until then, the chief reforms are as follows.

Deadline for local plans All local authorities must have an upto-date local plan by December 2023. While welcoming the move, WSP Indigo executive chairman Simon Neate says these “should have been done before now”. He adds: “Much of the paralysis in the system is due to some local planning authorities failing to progress up-todate plans, and it’s disappointing that it isn’t clearer how more resources will be made available for authorities or how the planning system will contribute to the ‘levelling up’ of regions.”

Planning fees reform to create a ‘world-class’ service The government proposes a new planning fee structure linked to a new performance framework, but oﬀered no details. “Reforming planning fees is an opportunity to resolve the signiﬁcant under-resourcing g of council planning teams,” says Mark Crane, District Network (DCN) lead Councils’ Networ economies. member for stronger st should be able to “Councils sh set these llocally to cover the cost of processing applications.” applic

National N Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) revised to embed

good design and placemaking principles The government will take forward some of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission’s recommendations, including urban tree planting and giving communities a greater opportunity to inﬂuence design standard. The National Model Design Code will set out parameters for promoting the design and style of homes and neighbourhoods.

PDRs for upward extensions New PDRs will be introduced in the summer including an additional two storeys. The government will consult on allowing empty commercial and industrial buildings and residential blocks to be demolished and replaced with homes with natural light. “Extended PDRs risk poorly designed and inappropriately located housing and will make it more diﬃcult for communities to have a say on development,” says RTPI chief executive Victoria Hills. “It will also result in diminished developer contributions

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PLAN UPFRONT

consideration of applications”. However, observers privately noted the costs of major appeals greatly exceed application fees. Councillors are unlikely to stop refusing applications even in the face of signiﬁcant costs.

be able to access this funding – private owners of such land or only council owners?” says Russell-Cooke planning partner Alex Ground. “Clarity will also be needed regarding what the criteria will be for receiving funding, including size of site, local housing need and the bidding process for site owners.”

Increase Housing Delivery Test threshold

Following the £5.2 billion for additional ﬂood defences announced in the Budget, the government will “assess whether current protections in the NPPF are enough and consider options for further reform”. No further details were oﬀered.

In a move that has been heavily trailed for months, the presumption in favour of development will apply to applications if a planning authority fails to deliver at least 75 per cent of its annual homes target even where the local plan does not support such development.

Review of building in ﬂood-risk areas

New Future Homes Standard In another move trailed by the government, the Future Homes Standard will require up to 80 per cent lower carbon emissions for all new homes.

The Oxford-Cambridge Arc and Toton

The paper supports “world-leading green growth corridor with highproductivity jobs and environmentally friendly developments”, proposing a Two funds – one of £1.1 billion and a spatial framework with up to four new longer-term one of £10 billion – are development corporations along the proposed to help authorities provide route around Bedford, St “transport, utilities, Neots/Sandy, Cambourne digital connectivity and “THE GOVERNMENT and Cambridge, plus community services like AIMS TO PUBLISH exploring the case for a schools and hospitals” to A ‘BOLD AND New Town near Cambridge. avoid new developments AMBITIOUS’ A net-zero development at straining local services. WHITE PAPER IN Toton in the East Midlands is Hills says this “recognises THE SPRING. THE also proposed. how crucial planning is in PLANNING SECTOR delivering on key housing WILL HAVE TO commitments”. What’s missing? WAIT FOR THAT The paper largely ignores TO PUT FLESH ON the gorilla in the room. Brownfield land THE BONES” “Addressing climate The government will change and achieving net invest £400 million to zero by 2050 is one of the use brownfield land government’s main priorities “productively”, alongside so we should expect to see the launch of a national it embedded throughout brownfield map and a call significant reforms such as these,” says for proposals to build above transport Neate. “This is a missed opportunity to stations in urban areas. The formula for show councils and communities the calculating local housing would need significance of the challenge that lies to be reviewed to encourage “greater before us and how the government building within and near to” urban areas. intends to get on the front foot.” “Further detail is needed on who will

Infrastructure-ﬁrst funding

through application fees, which go towards aﬀordable housing and infrastructure.”

Expand zoning The government will trial templates for drafting local development orders and “other zonal tools”. It also launched a consultation on a new UK Freeport model, including how zoning could support development. “Zoning will be difficult to implement without a wholesale review of the fundamental approach to planning in England, as there is no one-size-fits-all approach as demonstrated by different systems in Europe and America,” says Matthew Nixon, Eversheds-Sutherland’s senior associate for planning and infrastructure consenting. “The flexibility provided by the plan-led system, while not perfect, has considerable benefits over the more rigid zoning approach, but the latter could provide more certainty.”

Rebates for successful appeals The move aims to “promote proper I M AG E | G E T T Y

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NEWS

Analysis { BUDGET 2020

How feasible is ‘levelling up’ the UK? By Laura Edgar The Budget 2020 feels like a long time ago now, so much has happened since. Like The Planner team, you are probably working from home as the UK tackles the international coronavirus pandemic (of which more on pages 4 to 7). On 11 March, Rishi Sunak, four weeks into his role as Chancellor of the Exchequer, stood up in the House of Commons and allocated billions of pounds to housing and infrastructure. He committed to city and growth deals in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as a devolution deal for West Yorkshire. This Budget, he said, was one that “gets things done” and delivers on promises outlined in the Conservative Party manifesto. As the government aims to “level up” the country, Sunak stated: “If the country needs it, we will build it.” Here is an overview of the key cash announcements and how built environment professionals reacted.

Housing • £9.5 billion for the Affordable Homes Programme. In total, this five-year programme allocates £12.2 billion of grant funding from 2021 to 2022 to build affordable homes across England. • A £10.9 billion increase in housing investment towards building at least a million new homes by the end of the Parliament, and an average of 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s.

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• A £1 billion Building Safety Fund to pay for the removal of unsafe cladding from residential buildings above 18 metres. • £1.1 billion from the Housing Infrastructure Fund for investment in the infrastructure necessary to “unlock” housing, such as schools, roads and GP surgeries in nine areas. This will “unlock” up to 69,620 homes. • A new Brownfield Housing Fund will allocate £400 million to “prodevelopment councils and ambitious mayoral combined authorities” to enable them to make more brownfield brownfield land available for development. • The Budget commits the government to planning to develop, with local partners, a “long-term spatial framework to support strategic planning in the OxCam Arc”,

IT IS “CLEAR THE FUNDING ANNOUNCED WILL BARELY MAKE A DENT IN THE ACKNOWLEDGED SHORTFALL OF HOMES IN THE UK” NIGEL HEWITSON

and examining and developing the case for up to four new development corporations in the arc.

Infrastructure: • Road Investment Strategy 2 (RIS2) includes progressing a number of schemes, such as dualling the A66 TransPennine, upgrading the A46 Newark bypass, and building the Lower Thames Crossing. • £20 million for the Midlands Rail Hub to deliver improvements to rail services across all the regions. • The Transforming Cities Fund will make allocations of more than £1 billion to deliver a range of local transport schemes. • Upgrades to 15 local roads to reduce congestion, improve journey times and unlock housing and employment opportunities in England are outlined. These include the A350 in Wiltshire. • £500 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure to “ensure that drivers are never more than 30 miles from a rapid charging station”. £532 million for consumer incentives for ultra-low emission vehicles. • £5 billion to support the roll-out of gigabit-capable broadband in the most diﬃcult to reach parts of the country. I M AG E S | A L A M Y / S H U T T E RSTO C K

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• £120 million for the Environment Agency to repair the assets damaged by the storms this winter. • £200 million over the next six years for a place-based resilience programme to support more than 25 local areas urban, rural and coastal - to improve their resilience to ﬂooding and coastal erosion.

Devolution and growth deals • Funding for four city and growth deals: Mid Wales (£55 million); Argyll and Bute (£25 million); Causeway Coast and Glens (£36 million); Mid, South and West of Northern Ireland (£126 million). • A devolution deal with West Yorkshire to establish a mayoral combined authority with a directly-elected mayor from May 2021. This deal will be worth £1.1 billion of investment over 30 years. • £4.2 billion from 2022 to 2023 for ﬁve-year funding settlements for transport improvements in the eight mayoral combined authorities (West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, Liverpool City Region, Tyne and Wear, West of England, Sheﬃeld City Region and Tees Valley). • A Western Gateway Independent Economic Review that will identify long-term economic opportunities and challenges for the strategic partnership across south Wales and the west of England. • The Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish devolved administrations will receive additional funding through 2020/2021 using the Barnett formula for priorities such as public services and infrastructure. The Scottish Government’s block grant will increase by more than £640 million before adjustments for tax devolution; the Welsh Government’s block grant will increase by more than £360 million before adjustment for tax devolution; the Northern Ireland Executive’s block grant will increase by more than £210 million.

RESPONSE TO THE BUDGET

“Greater investment in the Affordable Homes Programme is a positive step, but with more than a million households on council waiting lists, and over 86,000 households in temporary accommodation, it is vital the programme is refocused towards building homes for social rent.” n David Renard, housing spokesman for the Local Government Association “Any investment in affordable homes is to be welcomed. But while the financial figures appear impressive on the surface, when you drill down and work out how many new homes they would pay for (over several years) it becomes clear the funding announced will barely make a dent in the acknowledged shortfall of homes in the UK. There will remain a significant gap that will need to be plugged if the ambitious targets previously set are to be met.” n Nigel Hewitson, senior planning solicitor at Gowling WLG “More than 1,000 days since Grenfell, the government has shown that it’s still not ready to act at the scale needed for the cladding crisis… There needs to be an acceptance of the scale of the problem and [the] sums just are not enough. The crisis goes far beyond removing Grenfellstyle cladding. Even leaseholders who have had their cladding found safe are still unable to remortgage or sell their properties due to the challenges of getting a signed EWS1 form.” n Mary-Anne Bowring, author of leaseholdersupport.co.uk and group managing director of Ringley “Communities wherever they are should expect housing development to be supported with excellent infrastructure. The new allocations of the Housing Infrastructure Fund are therefore welcome and we are pleased to see those spread around the country. It is particularly important that we

recognise different land values across the country and support the provision of infrastructure where land value may not support planning contributions.” n Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation “A Northern chancellor has given a budget which makes a credible start towards levelling up, closing the NorthSouth divide by investing in the infrastructure that will underpin the Northern Powerhouse.” n Henri Murison, director of Northern Powerhouse Partnership “Balancing large-scale infrastructure projects with the shift to a zero-carbon economy is going to be a challenge, particularly in the wake of the Court of Appeal ruling over the lawfulness of the Heathrow expansion. The pledge to leave our environment in a better state than we found it does not sit easily alongside a pledge to get Britain building. More funding for developing innovative, environmentally friendly, methods of construction will be needed to help the sector meet the government’s obligations on climate change and carbon reduction.” n Claire Petricca-Riding, national head of Irwin Mitchell’s planning and environment team “While we await the full details of the government’s infrastructure strategy, we welcome the commitment to significantly expand the scale of investment to try and ensure that all four corners of England benefit. For too long, investment in our towns and rural and coastal communities in counties have lagged behind London and the major cities. With the city regions receiving an extra £4.2 billion for their transport systems, the government should seek to channel the bulk of its pledged £5 billion investment into buses to those areas outside the cities to replace lost routes and create more services.” n David Williams, chair of the County Councils Network, and leader of Hertfordshire County Council

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NEWS

News { Dublin docklands tower back in the frame The planning and legal saga surrounding developer Johnny Ronan’s bid to build a 13-storey tower next to Salesforce’s Dublin docklands headquarters has taken yet another turn. An Bord Pleanála has again approved the scheme, just six weeks after the High Court quashed the body’s approval of the same development. The tower is the focal point of a fast-tracked scheme involving nearly 550 ﬂats and co-living units. The city council, in its ﬁrst legal challenge to an An Bord Pleanála decision, went to court arguing that the development plan for the location did not allow a 13-storey building. The

project is earmarked for a strategic development zone (SDZ). That challenge was successful; the bord’s consent was quashed, and the project was sent back to the agency for

redetermination. An Bord Pleanála has now issued another decision, again granting permission for the tower, but outlining new reasons for the determination. In its new decision it acknowledged that the development would “materially contravene” the SDZ with regard to its height limits, but said granting permission “would be justiﬁed” because of national policies on height, the pattern of development in the area, and the “strategic or national importance” of the proposed development.

NRW publishes ﬁrst set of area statements

Two prime Belfast projects gain approval

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has published a series of innovative area statements covering seven hugely diverse parts of the country. These statements apply to the north west, north east, mid, south west, south central and south east regions of the country, and are designed to “inform place-based action”. There is a separate bulletin for the marine area. The Welsh Government stresses that these are “a key piece of evidence which must be considered in development plan preparation”. NRW explained: “Each area statement outlines the key challenges facing that particular

Two large Belfast city centre projects have been approved by the city council – a scheme comprising a significant amount of new commercial and retail floor space and a residential tower providing 105 flats. The former scheme involves the demolition of Norwich Union House, close to the home of Primark, to make way for a seven-storey development. This will comprise 21,435 square metres of floor space on six levels with B1 grade offices over a ground floor composed of retail, café and restaurant units. Underground car parking with 37 spaces is included in the project. The latter scheme, at Academy Street and Exchange Street, will involve a 16-storey residential building providing a mixture of one and two-bedroom flats, café, cycle storage and a roof terrace. The application is an alternative to a previous permission for a 90-unit scheme.

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locality, what we can all do to meet those challenges, and how we can better manage our natural resources for the beneﬁt of future generations. “They will be updated regularly and improved… as we engage with more people, gather new evidence, put forward ideas and work across boundaries to create opportunities.” The area statements represent a response to the government’s 2017 natural resources policy.

I M AG E S | A L A M Y / I STO C K / S H U T T E RSTO C K

15/04/2020 11:26

NEWS

Clearer planning system needed to address housing crisis The RTPI has published a paper on the priorities for planning in England, including addressing the housing crisis and rebuilding economies after the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. It is based on the institute’s longstanding work on the value of planning and the need to correct many misunderstandings surrounding it. The RTPI believes the goals for planning should be to: n rebuild the economy after Covid-19; n address the housing crisis; n deliver beautiful and well-located development; and n assist national and local action on the climate. The institute said this should be made to happen with a “clearer, faster and more accessible planning system”. The paper proposes a number of solutions for how to deliver this, which have been designed to inﬂuence the government’s forthcoming planning white paper, and act as a “clarion call” for planning, in line with the RTPI’s corporate strategy. The solutions focus on increased use of digital planning; strategic planning, aligned with transport and infrastructure planning; and creative thinking to fund aﬀordable housing. The paper reinforces the RTPI’s call for resources, powers and structure for a “strong, proactive plan-led system” that has community and political participation at the plan-making stage. The institute wants achieving net zero, delivering public health outcomes and tackling spatial inequality to be priorities too. Planning outcomes should be reassessed. The RTPI’s head of policy Richard Blyth comments expands on the institute’s wishes for planning reform on pages 20-23.

Crown Estate Scotland’s blueprint targets coastal development

Crown Estate Scotland has announced proposals to invest £70 million over the next three years in a coastal community fund, commercial-scale offshore wind leasing, and a raft of new ways of producing food on land and at sea. These initiatives are highlighted in a corporate plan that sets out how the organisation will manage sea, land and coastline for the benefit of Scotland’s communities and businesses. The plan provides a blueprint for the organisation – operating under new legislation that focuses on sustainable development – to continue delivering wider value for Scotland. The public sector body, established in 2017, works across the seabed, coastline, rural estates and spans key sectors including offshore renewables, aquaculture, farming and ports and harbours.

Its activities affect thousands of people and businesses. Key objectives of the blueprint include supporting the expansion of Scotland’s blue economy, focusing on marine and coastal development and developing a built environment that strengthens communities and benefits businesses. The coastal communities fund will focus on the development of ports and harbours, boat-based tourism and coastal development land. Crown Estate Scotland chair Amanda Bryan said: “Over the coming years we want to invest in property, natural resources and people to generate lasting value. “From growing shellfish to new ways of farming, regenerating coastal communities to building Scotland’s blue economy, our focus will be sustainable growth that benefits all and helps build a net zero emissions economy.”

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1133

15/04/2020 11:26

NEWS

News { Decline in planning decisions and applications in England

83,500

- The number of decisions granted in Q4 2019, equivalent to 87 per cent of decisions. It is 6 per cent less than the number granted in the same quarter a year earlier.

3,003

100,300

applications were submitted for planning permission to district planning authorities, 7 per cent fewer than between October and December in 2018.

Oct to Dec

2019

11,100

residential applications were granted, while 1,500 major developments were granted and 9,600 minor developments were granted.

347,300

– the number of decisions districtlevel planning authorities granted in the year ending December 2019, down 5 per cent on the number in 2018. Source: MHCLG

Fall in Right to Buy sales

2,356

– The number of dwellings English local authorities sold between October and December 2019 (Q3) – a 12 per cent decline on the same quarter in 2018/19.

£211 million

– the receipt value local authorities received, which is 12 per cent less that the £238.7 million in the same quarter of 2018/19.

£89,600

planning applications were submitted to planning authorities in Q3 2019/2020, up 2 per cent on the previous quarter. This comprised 2,956 local and 47 major applications.

3,061

planning applications were decided upon; 3 per cent less than the previous quarter. Decisions were issued on 3,029 local and 32 major planning applications.

14.0

weeks – the average time it took to process local applications to decision or withdrawal in the ﬁrst 9 months of 2019/2020. This is within the 15-week target.

7 of the 11

councils were within the 15-week target during those 9 months.

82 per cent

– the average

of enforcement cases across all local authorities were concluded within 39 weeks during the ﬁrst nine months of 2019/20.

receipt per dwelling.

1,464

replacement dwellings were started on site or acquired. Source: MHCLG

Slight increase in application submissions in Northern Ireland

Source: Department for Infrastructure, Northern Ireland

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15/04/2020 11:27

LEADER COMMENT

Opinion onn Tech tools in an era of transformation – Much as the coronavirus crisis has been horrific for so many on so many levels, the creativity it has sparked does at least offer cause for optimism and opportunity when we all emerge out of our houses in due course. There will doubtless be relief whenever a semblance of normality returns, and – notwithstanding the parlous state of the economy in the medium term – perhaps much about how we work will indeed flex back to how it was before. But there will surely be a lasting impact – perhaps there already has been – to the way in which this profession functions. Initially, of course, lockdown life was about the rush to embrace virtual meetings. Soon, professions of all kinds began talking about the wider impact of lockdown on their process and procedure. But while many focus on the potential elimination of analogue workflows and the ushering

Martin Read in of dynamic digital alternatives, the criticality of meeting interactions within planning means that their continuing acceptance in virtual form has the potential for lasting and transformative eﬀect. For planning, digital acceptance could lead to a wider demographic and more diverse participation in the process. Will we, for example, see a greater variety of local authority councillors, newly empowered because digital

meetings make caring or parenting responsibilities, less of an impediment to participation? Beyond newly ubiquitous yet generic digital comms tech tools – who knew of the video platform Zoom prior to all this? – nascent plantech tools could be about to go mainstream as emboldened planning professionals become less reticent to embrace them. We’ve had decades of tech tool development, but few global events of this magnitude to bring new ways of working into the everyday experience of the many rather than the exceptional option for a few. For planning, a newly refreshed digital debate will be about what is and isn’t

"A NEWLY REFRESHED DIGITAL DEBATE WILL BE ABOUT WHAT IS AND ISN’T POSSIBLE OR ACCEPTABLE"

possible or acceptable. What constitutes the minimum acceptable physical face-toface dialogue? What impact is there likely to be on the democratic accountability of the process? Ultimately, this crisis may also lead to a fundamental shift in the kinds of projects proposed. The very nature of housing and its fitness for purpose for more routine home workers could spark another angle to the design quality debate (on which note, see our feature p. 20) while transport infrastructure could be affected by changes to what constitutes acceptable levels of commuting, for example. A significant month, then, and covered in these pages via a timeline tracking the changes to law and policy in an extraordinary few weeks of change; and an initial assessment of how planning under lockdown has coped. We are reporting this evolving situation in our newsletters and on www. theplanner.co.uk – where we encourage you to join us.

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£120 – UK £175 – Overseas To subscribe, call 01580 883844 or email subs@redactive.co.uk – alternatively, you can subscribe online at subs.theplanner. co.uk/subscribe © The Planner is published on behalf of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) by Redactive Publishing Ltd (RPL), 78 Chamber Street, London E1 8BL This magazine aims to include a broad range of opinion about planning issues and articles do not necessarily reﬂect the views of the RTPI nor should such opinions be relied upon as statements of fact. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in any print or electronic format, including but not limited to any online service, any database or any part of the internet, or in any other format in whole or in part in any media whatsoever, without the prior written permission of the publisher. While all due care is taken in writing and producing this magazine, neither RTPI nor RPL accept any liability for the accuracy of the contents or any opinions expressed herein. Printed by PCP Ltd.

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MAY 2 0 2 0 / THE PLA NNER

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LO U I S E B R O O K E S M I T H O B E

O Opinion

Keep smiling through As you may know, all contributors to The Planner prepare their pieces at least a month in advance. Given the current emergency it means that, by the time you read this, circumstances might have changed dramatically. If the UK follows the same trajectory as our Italian cousins, then things might be quite challenging. It is to be hoped that self-isolation and social distancing will have a positive eﬀect and the tide will be turning on Covid-19. Webex, Skype and Zoom have introduced a new vocabulary and we are all learning the art of being polite, or hiding our utter frustration on our conferencing calls. Social media has come into its own and meant more time in front of our computers. This has weirdly increased social connections through cyber conversations. Work teams are at pains to ensure that virtual water-cooler conversations still take place. I was invited to join a group for former pupils at my secondary school. It has meant that old friendships have been refreshed – even if they tend to start with “Back in 1982 you would have known me as…”. As it was an all-girls grammar school, many went on to marry and change their names. I’ve always found it odd but my view on ‘outdated customs reinforcing women as chattels’ is for another day. I hope that by the time you read this, on screen or on recyclable paper, our IT systems will have coped

T H E PL AN N E R \ MA Y 2 0 2 0

16 Louise_May 2020_The Planner 16

and not fallen over. More importantly, I pray that our NHS service will be coping and will not have collapsed. Ironically, I was going to write about place and wellbeing this month and how we can ensure that, moving forward, all of us working across the built environment can and should embed a new enthusiasm for eﬀective design. But I don’t feel I need to labour the point. I think it will be vital and, more importantly, I believe that our Westminster brethren will think the same. We might even have seen the planning white paper issued, and it include more than a regurgitated meal of past proposals. Now is the time to make the best of digital technology, cyber networking, and social cohesion. The ‘working from home’ edict from Boris, together

“WEBEX, SKYPE AND ZOOM HAVE INTRODUCED A NEW VOCABULARY” with the Cold War-esque rule that no more than two people should congregate, are vital if we are to get to the other side. Families are learning to get on together. Houses are seeing all those nooks and crannies being cleaned for the first time in years, and gardens are being tended as if we all work for the National Trust. I have had the delights of a home office for years. Great in some ways because you don’t have to put the papers away! But the downside is that inevitably stuff that ‘might come in handy’ in an era before the digital age and a paperless office, has been

stacked up on shelves, waiting for the right time to be useful, which rarely arrives. Along with school photos, birthday cards from the kids, menus from past formal dinners, my endeavour with the Marigolds has turned up some interesting stuﬀ. I have unearthed such gems as The Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988, the 1986 NHBC Standards for Building Near Trees and a zillion versions of successive governments attempts to ‘modernise the planning system’. Some short and sweet, others cumbersome – impractical to implement and full of unintended consequences. I think we all hope that the version this year from Robert Jenrick is both implementable and eﬀective. True social value will, I hope be embedded into whatever planning system emerges and we don’t end up referring to any bid to modernise the system, however well meaning, as “Ah yes, you would have known me as ‘modernising the system version 17’ back in 1982”.

Dr Louise Brooke-Smith is a development and strategic planning consultant and a built environment non-executive director I L L U S T R AT I O N | Z A R A P I C K E N

14/04/2020 17:16

Quote unquote FROM THE RTPI AND THE WEB

I M AG E S | S H U T T E RSTO C K / I STO C K

“2,000m3 of sawn timber can be used to create an eight-story building with 64 apartments housing around 120 residents. It can also provide 2,300km miles of driving per household using biofuels, 25 years of paper consumption, 30 years of textile consumption, nine years of district heating, and six years of household electricity consumption. Trees are the very deﬁnition of a circular economy.” JEREMY ENGLISH OF FOREST OWNER ASSOCIATION SÖDRA ON THE VALUE OF TREES

“Gone are the days of turning up to the community centre at a given time to contribute to local plans. The future of UK planning must be digitally led.”

“Like it or not, local authorities are being strong-armed into PlanTech” RTPI CHIEF EXECUTIVE VICTORIA HILLS PICKS A POSITIVE OUT OF THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

“We need to know what rules of the game the ru are no later than Christmas so we can get development moving in the rrun-up to 2023” MATTHEW SPRY, SENIOR DIR DIRECTOR AT LICHFIELDS, ON THE FORTHCOMING PLANNING WHITE PAPER

MIKE DERBYSHIRE, HEAD OF PLANNING AT BIDWELLS PUSHES AT THE OPEN DOOR OF DIGITAL PLANNING POST COVID 19

“Limiting the number of takeaways in Gateshead isn’t going to cure obesity, but it is one small – and eﬀective – action within a wider eﬀort to tackle obesity lev levels” vels GATESHEAD G COUNCILLOR BERNADETTE OLIPHANT ON THE E UPSHOT OF A KFC PLANNING APPEAL BEING REJECTED J IN THE T OWN TOWN

“Modern policies have encouraged urban residential development without provision of private open space by relying on access to nearby public space; Covid-19 may make us rethink” GREGORY JJONES QC Q CONSIDERS A WIDER DISTANCING NARRATIVE

“Putting “Pu the likely impact on health equity at the heart of all policymaking would lead to better environmental policy, env better social policy, be better healthcare b policy and better p political policies. I’d po like to see a well-being economy emerge e from this crisis.” f SIR MICHAEL MI MARMOT, PROFESSOR OF EPIDE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH AT U UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON C AND CHAIR OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORG ORGANISATION’S COMMISSION ON SOCIA SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

MA 2 0 20 / THE PLA NNER MAY

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15/04/2020 11:28

B E S T O F T H E B LO G S

O Opinion

1 BLOG

Kate McClean is director of planning and development at Meller Speakman

Biodiversity net gain: barrier or opportunity?

The principle of biodiversity net gain (BNG) is now heading full pelt towards the planning process – with big implications for landowners and developers. In principle, BNG requires developers to ensure that habitats are enhanced, delivering at least a 10 per cent improvement in biodiversity. It is not yet a mandatory requirement, but February’s NPPF update sets a requirement to “identify and pursue opportunities for securing measurable net gains for biodiversity”. When the environment bill gains royal assent at the end of the year local planning authorities (LPAs) will have a legal f r a m e wo r k for targeting biodiversity enhancements. Several LPAs are already imposing the NPPF requirements as policy. Planning applications, even those beneﬁting from an allocation, will need to ensure that they are submitted with BNG in mind. This is not something that will be resolved quickly post-validation alongside more generalised ecology comments. Developers must make sure their submission has appraised the impact of their proposals on biodiversity and that they are proposing a suitable response, ideally at pre-application stage. For example, a parcel of land proposed for residential development with a pre-development baseline

Professor Jason Pomeroy is an architect, academic, author and TV presenter

Going beyond the triple bottom line to secure a sustainable future

biodiversity unit value of 100 would need to guarantee a 10 per cent gain in unit value (amounting to 110 units) either on site, off-site or a combination of both. If a council has a site already identified for BNG, then payment of a commuted sum through a s106 agreement might be possible. The industry may see the introduction of BNG as another barrier to delivery imposed by the planning system. At best, where a solution is in place an application could be delayed while the consultant ecologist reaches a palatable level of compensatory land or contribution with the LPA’s ecologist. Cost is another impact. Schemes now burdened with CIL and s106 requests must factor BNG delivery into their appraisals. The costs of acquiring or leasing BNG land will vary. The current tariff proposed by Defra for off-site compensation is £9,000 to £15,000 per biodiversity unit (i.e. if you need to find 10 units to generate a 10 per cent net gain, you could be looking at a £90,000 to £150,000 contribution). Either approach would challenge viability on more marginal sites. But for landowners BNG is an opportunity. Where land doesn’t benefit from immediate development potential it can be sold or leased for 30 years to a developer.

“SEVERAL LPAS ARE ALREADY IMPOSING THE NPPF REQUIREMENTS AS POLICY”

2 BLOG

I recently returned from the 10th Session of the World Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi, convened by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), with the theme ‘Cities of Opportunities: Connecting Culture and Innovation’. [Editor’s note: Also the title of Jason’s new book, which was the event’s oﬃcial accompanying text]. There was much discussion about the need for change in our understanding of the ‘triple bottom line’ [the framework of social, e nv i ro n m e n ta l and economic performance that s u p p o r t s sustainable policymaking and development]. The argument that pervaded the forum was that while this approach is still useful, it does not reﬂect all dimensions of our global societies as they are today. For a start, culture needs to be part of this model, as an essential element that shapes who we are as people in societies. Culture refers to not only the arts but also to the customs, institutions, and achievements of a social group, a people, or a nation. Innovation refers to the action or process of change, alteration, or revolution that brings about change. It is easy to assume that innovation may be juxtaposed to the preservation of culture and time-tested rituals. Yet as human settlements grew and evolved through the diverse exchanges

of people trading, celebrating, rallying and socially interacting, it should come as little surprise that cities and its places would become, and continue to be, centres of culture and innovation that are inextricably linked. If a lesson is to be learned from any of the world’s successful cities it is that adopting a sustainable process delivers a sustainable product. That process is often one that embraces a culture of innovation that is inclusive and allows each member of society to make a difference. That process should involve the collaboration of four key spheres of influence: namely government, the people, business and academia working together. In this scenario the approach is neither solely government-led or solely people-led; the four spheres have an equal stake in creating a framework to exchange ideas. The people are enabled to detail what they need and want to see. Academic institutions can test and provide ‘proof of concepts’ that can demonstrate positive citywide improvements. And multinational corporations and SMEs can work on the solutions with academic institutions. The results of this undertaking are ratified by the government to bring the process full circle. We see such models implemented from Bandung to Barcelona, and wish to see more.

“ADOPTING A SUSTAINABLE PROCESS WILL DELIVER A SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT”

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Have your say Would you like to see yourself in these pages? Get in touch by email – editorial@theplanner.co.uk Topical, inspirational, angry or amusing – we consider all relevant comment

3 BLOG

Mark Southgate MRTPI is chief executive of MOBIE, the Ministry of Building Innovation and Education

The homebuilding revolution must start with the young

Our homes are the most important piece of architecture in our lives. They craft the way we live and how we grow as families and communities. A well-designed home promotes well-being; a poorly designed one the opposite. As we emerge from enforced time spent in our homes, our attitude to place, space and value may be diﬀerent, more demanding and less tolerant of poor quality. Great placemaking, high standards of home design and high-quality housebuilding should be the norm. This includes zero, or even net, carbon to combat climate change and address fuel poverty; secure homes and neighbourhoods that promote mental and physical health; and adaptable homes that facilitate healthy ageing. The UK is a long way from delivering these aspirations right now. The way we build houses has hardly changed in 100 years. Other manufacturing sectors have undergone revolutions, but Victorians would recognise much of today’s housing ‘technology’. It’s incredible that for one of our most expensive purchases, or monthly outgoings, time has largely stood still. Other sectors focus on continuously improving to meet customers’ changing needs. Where is it in housebuilding?

4 BLOG

It can be found if you look hard enough, but much of what we build is uninspiring, poorly designed and sometimes shockingly poor in build quality. The government is committed to delivering 300,000 new homes, but we must radically improve how we build. That means building homes that are efficient, effective and adaptable to our changing needs. It means bringing in new approaches. Modern methods of construction are part of the new approach, but so is a stronger customer focus, and changing practice through continuous improvement. We should demand houses that are cheaper to run, better to live in, adaptable, last for longer and reduce our environmental footprint. At MOBIE we want to positively disrupt the sector by attracting and nurturing a new generation of designers, makers, developers, and architects, planners and surveyors. That’s why we’ve created an educational pathway for young people, from engagement with schools, through to BTECs and PhDs in advanced home design. There are incredible opportunities for young people to create a built environment that is green, affordable, promotes health and wellbeing and builds homes that are amazing spaces to live in.

“IT’S INCREDIBLE THAT FOR ONE OF OUR MOST EXPENSIVE PURCHASES, TIME HAS LARGELY STOOD STILL”

Andrew BaddeleyChappell is chief executive of the National Custom and Self Build Association

Custom-build can create a virtuous housing circle

Housing is the only consumer market in the UK where most people do not want to buy the latest product. As the government recognises, there is insuﬃcient competition and innovation; we are stuck in a rut. The solution lies in greater consumer choice. Giving the home occupier (whatever their tenure) more say over the route to purchase, location and design of the place they will call home. I believe that custom and selfbuild leads to more and better homes that more people aspire to live in and that communities are happier to see built. Clearly, society requires a balance between the freedom of individuals and a collective good, and greater choice must be undertaken with due regard to the local community. There are many ways to achieve this balance, and a range of approaches is needed. In theory, our current planning system has the ﬂexibility it needs but it is serving only those who want no homes at all, and those who build mediocre homes at scale. We need to encourage more self-commissioned homes. Only when we do so will we fully understand what consumers want and create the examples for others to follow – a virtuous cycle of quality and quantity. Not only will these homes take advantage of innovative designs

and seek to raise the bar in terms of the aesthetic, but self-builders are early adopters of the technologies that will become mainstream with regards to design, new-build methods, and environmental sustainability. Where appropriate, design codes can assuage concerns that the homes built will stand out against the existing vernacular. On larger sites in particular, zoning can be used to develop areas that support a greater flexibility in appearance and design, out of which will emerge the conservation areas of tomorrow. This is building beautiful from the bottom up and not just top down. At a time when more of us are being forced to work from home, imagine homes that inspire rather than disappoint. While self-build has always innovated in design terms, it is custom-build that is set to be a game changer, introducing a new flexibility of development for multi-plot sites. These use design codes and plot passports to shape them, which reduces the planning risk as it offers surety to planners and neighbours that the scheme fits locally, while still offering choice to the residents. They also use more modern methods of construction and incorporate more sustainable and adaptable features to enable residents to live in their homes for longer.

“CLEARLY, SOCIETY REQUIRES A BALANCE BETWEEN THE FREEDOM OF INDIVIDUALS AND A COLLECTIVE GOOD”

MAY 2 0 20 / THE PLA NNER

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P L A N N I N G R E FO R M A N D D E S I G N

P L A NNI NG’S NE W PATTER N B OOK IMPROVING THE DESIGN OF BUILDINGS AND PLACES IS AT THE HEART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANNING AGENDA, WE ARE TOLD. SIMON WICKS ASKS WHETHER ITS PLEDGE TO REFORM PLANNING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY WILL DELIVER

t’s almost a government with two faces,” declares Matthew Carmona. “One face is very much coming from the Building Better, Building Beautiful perspective that we regard design as important. But then there’s this side, which has a deregulatory instinct. It’s sort of against planning. It thinks we shouldn’t have discretion because somehow that is slowing the economy down.” You can’t loosen regulation and improve design quality, insists Carmona, UCL planning professor and chair of Place Alliance. And his defence of planning ﬁnds its counterpart in Living with Beauty, the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission (BBBC) report. This puts as much stress on the utility and emotional impact of place, the pattern of settlements and their relationship with nature, as it does on the aesthetics of development. It also asserts the central role of planning to the creation of well-designed places and its recommendations amount to a comprehensive reform of the planning system and its priorities. The government has outlined its own approach to such reform in the policy paper Planning for the Future. This aims to direct planning towards faster housing delivery and economic growth. Its secondary purpose,

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15/04/2020 11:29

however, is to do this alongside systemic improvement in the quality of design. The paper promises to “embed” the BBBBC’s language of beauty and placemaking into the NPPF alongside a “fast-track to beauty”. Tree-lined streets will be compulsory, with a Future Homes Standard and National Model Design Code for England introduced. But the paper also proposes to look at zoning (the application of bespoke planning rules to a specified location) and to extend permitted development rights (“very troubling”, says Carmona). While zoning can work with proper “checks and balances”, it’s more likely to lead to places akin to American suburbs, says Carmona (“which is, you know, anything goes and ugliness”). Could the application of local design codes – a likely counterpart to zoning – improve design standards? Richard Blyth FRTPI, head of policy for the RTPI, is sceptical. “The difficulty is how long it would take to agree what the rules are which, if the American experience is [anything to go by] means you end up with zoning rules that are stonkingly difficult to change.” Nicholas Boyes-Smith, founder of Create Streets and the BBBBC chair, says the “extremes” of permitted development are

20-23 Cover feature_May 2020_The Planner 21

“clearly not defensible” – but that does not mean it cannot work alongside a set of design rules. “All the evidence I’ve read says make it as simple and upfront as possible, so that it’s predictable and consistent. And I’m afraid that’s just not how we do it.”

The need for reform Last October the government published its National Design Guide, setting out “the characteristics of well-designed places” and “what good design means in practice” while announcing a future National Model Design Code to act as a template for locally produced codes. Living with Beauty sees these as the key to involving people in shaping the places where they live. It makes the case for greater community participation

“WE’VE SEEN A PLETHORA OF INTERNAL DESIGN SIZES POP UP OVER TIME, AND IT’S JUST A COMPLETE NIGHTMARE”

in planning processes. Design and placemaking, for example, should be beefed up in the NPPF and national planning guidance, and given a “local force” in local plans. Councils should “radically and profoundly reinvent the ambition, depth and breadth with which they engage with neighbourhoods”. “More democracy should take place at the local plan phase, expanding from the current focus on consultation in the development control process to one of co-design. Having shorter, more powerful and more visual local plans informed by local views (‘community codes’) should help engender this.” For Carmona – supportive of a national code yet wary of broadly applied local codes – good design is “place-based”, with “every site properly designed with perhaps a site-speciﬁc design code designed for that site, either within the local authority or externally – a proper consideration of design quality in relation to every single context.” Tracey Coleman, strategic services director for Guildford Borough Council, notes that English Partnerships (a predecessor to Homes England) produced national design guidance in 2000, updated in 2007, along with a practice manual,

15/04/2020 11:29

P L A N N I N G R E FO R M A N D D E S I G N

Preparing Design Codes. Her point? All this has been said before. “If you keep changing them and having more and more [guides] we don’t get to functionally use the guidance there is,” she laments. And if the government’s intention to speed up housebuilding is to be achieved within a context of codes that reinforce local character, what happens when these meet the realities of delivering housing at volume and speed? “A local design concept is fine and makes sense for localities with a strong design tradition in a local area,” says Andrew Taylor FRTPI, head of planning for house builder Countrywide. However, “if you’re working across areas you want simplicity. We’ve seen a plethora of internal design sizes pop up over time, and it’s just a complete nightmare”. Significant local variation disrupts the volume housebuilding model by making design and build more time-consuming and potentially costly. It may also make it more challenging to employ modern methods of construction, which work most efficiently through replication. “It’s helpful from our perspective in terms of understanding what the authority wants and understanding how we can deliver that,” says Taylor. “But within that we’ve got two timber-frame factories and their whole purpose is to standardise and simplify; to improve the certainty and speed of delivery.”

Addressing the incentives Living with Beauty posits a solution to this problem: change the business model. Or rather, seek to reward long-term investment over fast proﬁts. Currently, a landowner or developer committing to a ‘stewardship’ approach to development is also committing to a higher and ongoing tax bill based on income (taxed annually at 40 per cent) rather than capital gains (taxed once at 20 per cent). Boyes-Smith and his fellow commissioners argue for a “neutral taxation system” that does not confer an advantage to the “build by units” model. Taylor, the volume housebuilder, is amenable to such a change, noting that Countrywide already works with community land trusts. “We don’t often

have private landowners staying involved through the process because of the current tax regime,” he observes. “If that changes, you can get a completely different range of landowners.” For Boyes-Smith, the ‘stewardship Kitemark’, at the heart of the design framework explored within Living with Beauty, is a matter of horses for courses. “[The landowner] just needs a level playing field,” he says. “[A change to the tax system] will become important if landowners and developers can see the financial benefits as longer-term [gain].” The government has promised to respond in full to the BBBBC report in the planning white paper and this should include a reply to the tax proposal.

The skills gap One area in which planners, developers and even policymakers seem to be in agreement is the need for planning to be better resourced and for planners themselves to be given the skills to deliver good design. Living with Beauty advocates a broader planning education to include “placemaking, the history of architecture and design, popular preferences and (above all) the associations of urban form and design with well-being and health”. Coleman, likewise, stresses the need to understand that ‘design’ is about utility as much as aesthetics, and this spans a number of specialisms. “Planners are not architects,” she asserts. “Few have design qualifications and few local authorities have staff with design qualifications. “There’s a resource issue, being able to get the right people to give the right advice at the right time. You cannot expect planners to be the experts on absolutely everything, [but] I do think it would be worthwhile for planners, as part of their qualifications, to have a clear understanding about design principles. For me, urban design is probably more useful than architecture.” An expansion of planning’s application is also considered in a new RTPI paper considering where planning reform should be focused.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

The main points of the government’s proposed planning reforms, as outlined in The Future of Planning policy paper: n A ‘fast track’ for beauty within the planning system n Embed the BBBBC’s Living with Beauty principles into the NPPF n December 2023 deadline for completion of local plans n Planning fees linked to performance n Review of formula for calculating local housing need to increase bias towards building in urban areas n Zoning, possibly in the form of local development orders n Permitted development rights to build upwards on residential buildings and to demolish vacant commercial, industrial and residential blocks for welldesigned housing n Increase use of compulsory purchase orders to facilitate land assembly and infrastructure delivery. The Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission’s report Living with Beauty contains more than 40 recommendations for reform framed around a new development framework driven by three principles: n Ask for beauty n Refuse ugliness n Promote stewardship In particular it calls for greater community involvement in the design of buildings and places; incentives for landowners and developers to follow the stewardship model for new developments; more powerful land assembly tools and changes to Homes England’s procurement procedures to put a greater emphasis on quality; and more resources for the planning system.

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PRIORITIES FOR PLANNING: THE RTPI VIEW

The RTPI’s newly published paper outlining the institute’s priorities for a reformed planning system advocates measures intended to addressing the housing crisis and deliver “beautiful and welllocated development” within a “clearer, faster and more accessible planning system”. Among other things, it calls for: n Greater use of strategic planning n “Resourcing, powers, and structures for a strong, proactive plan-led system n “Community and political participation prioritised at plan-

“Maybe we should resuscitate [American architect and urban planner] Daniel Burnham’s ‘Make no small plans’ motto,” says Richard Blyth, the RTPI’s head of policy. He adds: “We should be seeing the planning system as delivering on a whole series of crossgovernmental objectives.” n bit.ly/planner0520-PlanningPriorities

matter of course. Beyond cross-disciplinary working, there is the question of how you measure good place design or any other output from planning. “It’s important for a planning system to have the right metrics,” Blyth continues. “The RTPI is currently involved in measuring planning outcomes across the UK and Ireland and trying to get to a better understanding of the value of planning which would not rest on a single outcome measure.” Boyes-Smith cites Transport for London as an example of a planning

3 S T O R E Y D E TA C H E D

“We are concerned about reorientating the priorities of planning,” says Blyth. “This includes issues we know are at the heart of the government, such as levelling up and public health.” This would necessitate that planners work closely with peers in other professional disciplines, bringing a wider range of specialisms into planning as a

making stage (including strong policy on design)” n A “rethink” about how planning outcomes are assessed.

body incorporating metrics for well-being alongside internal performance targets. Above all, though, what is required to deliver “humane and popular urbanism” is “a shift in the way planning works from a development control-like process to a plan-led process, but one which is able to set certainty but also evolve over time to make greater use of emerging technology”.

A big ask Perhaps in the end it comes down to a plan – something the government implicitly acknowledges with its injunction to complete local plans by 2023. Coleman herself argues that good, contextual place design will come “if you’ve got an up-to-date local plan, character appraisals and neighbourhood plans”. She says: “In Guildford, we have a heights and views document, a strategic development framework and a climate change SPD. These together create design and beauty. Architectural aspects cannot do this on their own.” As a result, developers “understand the constraints that are there when they buy land and value it”. Taylor underscores the point, even if he might prefer a reduction in the swathe of policy documents. “The biggest thing from our perspective is having all the information up front so you can price it all in right from the front. This means the local plan is clear [and] you don’t have a plethora of supplementary documents which bring in diﬀerent ideas in the next few years.” Status quo or systemic reform? How does a 21st century planning system, in Blyth’s words, “solve the housing crisis and deliver beautiful, well-located development” consistently and quickly? It is not done by “printing more planning permissions”, he says. Instead, Blyth’s suggestion may be as radical as any other. “It’s quite a good idea to ask people who work in planning what the solution should be. We are a very broad church and listening to us will encompass the views of people who make and determine applications.” n Simon Wicks is deputy editor of The Planner

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LOW- R I S E RADICAL PETER BARBER DESIGNS HOUSING THAT IS ECONOMICAL IN ITS USE OF SPACE AND MONEY, BUT ALSO LIBERATING IN ITS SOCIABILITY AND CONCERN FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN SOCIETY. MATT MOODY DIGS INTO THE PHILOSOPHY OF ONE OF THE UK’S MOST RADICAL ARCHITECTS

Social distancing Peter Barber and his team are used to working closely together, having operated out of a tiny shopfront studio in King’s Cross since 2002. On the day of our interview, however, the UK has been plunged into pandemic-enforced lockdown, and Barber’s tight-knit team has been dispersed. When he answers the phone, it’s from a “sunny rooftop” in Brighton, with seagulls cawing in the background. “We all sit together in the studio, so it’s quite strange not being in that situation.” Shared space and opportunities for socialising are key themes in Barber’s work. His breakthrough came in 2006, when Donnybrook Quarter, his low-rise, high-density housing project in Bow, east London, was completed. Described as “an island of white in a sea of brown” by the BBC, the project was noted for its bold design, but it also showcased the placemaking philosophy that has underpinned Barber’s work since then.

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I N T E R V I E W : P ET E R B A R B E R

“I think really good design hinges on a careful consideration of how it might liberate or constrain people,” he says. “And when we think about design in an urban context, we’re thinking about housing. Seventy per cent of buildings in London are housing. It’s what creates public space, by pushing into the spaces around it. For me, the starting point of any project is thinking about how it will create public space.”

Breaking the cycle These ideas are apparent in Barber’s work on accommodation for the homeless. A recent example is Holmes Road, completed in 2016 for Camden Council. The scheme provides accommodation, counselling and training facilities for homeless people in a series of terraced almshouses, featuring vaulted brickwork and brightly coloured front doors. The buildings are arranged around a central courtyard, where residents can “learn gardening skills and think about nutrition”. Having spent some time working in hostels, Barber followed the Blair government’s attempts, through the Hostels Capital Improvement Programme, to “break the cycle” of homelessness by rethinking hostel design. In his own work, he sought to address the problem of “circulation”. “Lots of hostels are converted from older buildings, and through that process you get labyrinthine corridors that feel depressing and often rather unsafe. I wondered if there was another way of organising these spaces, and the courtyard became crucial to that. Unlike a corridor, people are visible to each other in courtyards. They create the possibility of unplanned encounters and allow friendships to emerge.” The idea has been borne out in conversations with staﬀ at Holmes Road, he says, who describe it as “transformative”. Similar principles were applied at Ilchester Road, a row of six cottages in Dagenham, which Barber designed for people over 60. “The stats for loneliness amongst older people are really not good, and that struck me as something that needed to feature in the design of the project,” he says. The scheme was inspired by Choumert Square, a row of Victorian cottages in Peckham that face each other across a narrow passageway about six metres wide. “There are no back gardens, so you have to sit at the front, and that creates a lovely sort of neighbourliness,” he explains. “At Ilchester Road the arrangement of shared space is very intimate, and it’s a dead end, too – it

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CURRICULUM VITAE

really stresses the importance of the street as a place for socialising. As long as it’s not raining they [the residents] will be sat outside – it’s fantastic.”

An attitude problem On his website Barber cites the Marxist philosopher Walter Benjamin as an inspiration, describing the idea of the city as “animated and activated by the business and activity of its occupants”. Although his low-rise, streetcentric designs have won him praise from some conservative ﬁgures such as the late Roger Scruton, he is an avowed socialist. “I think the more lives the housing crisis touches, the more support there will be for the idea of a properly planned housing economy, not one that’s just left to the vagaries of global capitalism, which is what we have at the moment,” he says. “We have 170,000 homeless people in London, one of the richest cities the world has ever seen. It’s pretty obvious that as a very, very wealthy country we can aﬀord to make sure that people have a home – I think it’s an attitude problem. Housing is basic infrastructure, more basic than transport actually... if we’re prepared to put billions into rail improvements, we can put a roof over people’s heads.” “It’s not just a Tory thing,” he adds. “Labour had ample opportunities to address the housing crisis in government. Clearly, the situation has worsened in recent years, but while people continue to see housing as a commodity and an investment vehicle, this is the situation we’ll be in.” He proposes three solutions: an end to Right to Buy, rent controls, and “a massive social housing programme”. These, he says, would end the housing crisis overnight. But what about planning?

Small is beautiful “Space standards, for example, assume a Mr and Mrs Normal,” says Barber. “They have to assume that everybody is the same, which at times forces designers to do things that don’t work for some people. But at the same time, they do protect people from unscrupulous developers.” Could greater community involvement in creating design codes and standards be a way around this problem? Barber has “mixed feelings” on the subject. “Devolving control further can result in Nimbyism, where you get a handful of... vociferous individuals pushing things out of shape. There will be conﬂict between people rightfully wanting a say over what goes on in their

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P ET E R BARBER Place of birth: Guildford, 1960 Education: University of Sheﬃeld

1989 Peter Barber Architects is founded, and moves into studios built by the practice on a canal-side wharf in East London)

2002 The practice moves into the Victorian shop front studio in King’s Cross, where it has remained since

2006 Donnybrook Quarter, the practice’s breakthrough housing scheme, is completed near Victoria Park, east London

2016 Holmes Road, Barber’s award-winning hostel for homeless people in Camden, is completed

2018 Ilchester Road, a scheme of cottages for the over-60s, is completed in Dagenham ‘Peter Barber: 100-mile City and Other Stories’ is exhibited at the Design Museum

2019 Ordance Road, a scheme of 15 social housing units on brownﬁeld land in Enﬁeld, wins a RIBA regional award

community, and the wider context that a local authority planner can see. “In the end, I think we have to have a planned economy, and that relies on people at a governmental level making decisions... but councillors are voted in, so that’s democracy working.” Despite considerable success and recognition over the past 10 years, Barber has maintained a compact team and continued to work on small-scale projects. “We’ve had plenty of opportunities to grow, but there’s nine of us now – with 10, 11, I’d feel comfortable, but if we got to 20 people I think something would change and the quality would slip. “Housebuilding culture is very corporate, by and large,” he adds. “I think the people who deliver very large schemes can sometimes lose touch a little bit. Whereas for a smaller, enthusiastic younger developer a small scheme means a great deal. Very often across the board, when things get bigger, they get worse.” One solution to this problem, he says, is to “rethink the tendency to flog off land to the big developers because it’s more convenient”. Instead, once a masterplan has been drawn up, strategic sites could be broken up into smaller parcels and developed by smaller companies, each with their own architect. He cites the “extreme but rather lovely” example of Borneo Sporenburg in Amsterdam, where, in an attempt to reflect the varied character of the old town, a former dockland area marked for development was broken up into smaller lots. I M AG E S | M O R L E Y VON S T E R N B E RG

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I N T E R V I E W : P ET E R B A R B E R

“You could buy one of these plots, a five-metre frontage of a terrace, and employ an architect to design it. It’s resulted in a really extraordinary patchwork of five-metre frontages, all four storeys high but in all different styles... it’s a magic project. I think self-build and cooperative housing projects are really interesting. One way a major housebuilding programme over the next decade might differ from the one we had post-war is more of it might be bottom-up than top-down”.

(above) Ordnance Road in Enﬁeld, North London

intimately scaled streets and carefully integrated infrastructure below, creating “a dense, intense edge to London, a confident purposeful boundary fronting a revitalised productive countryside”, and – crucially – providing a million new homes. So is this for real? “Someone once described it as a ‘provocation’, and I think that’s fair,” Barber laughs. “A lot of what I do day-to-day involves practical troubleshooting, and this idea started in a sketchbook as a chance to reflect and dream a little bit. The thinking was, we need these houses, but how can we build them in a way which is less disruptive?” “There is a naivety there, of course”, he continues. “We cycled around the perimeter of the green belt as part of the project, and of course the reality is that it doesn’t really exist... the border is like confetti. But what underpins the project is the idea that we should be building more houses in suburbia, but in an urban way: that is, at a density that can sustain jobs, schools, transport etcetera.” Perhaps unsurprisingly for an architect with such an interest in urbanism, Barber’s message to planners is a robustly supportive one. “I am absolutely fed up with architects, householders, developers slagging off the planning system. I have never sat in a planning committee and thought ‘Oh it’s a shame that project didn’t get through’ – I’m thinking ‘thank God they didn’t allow that!’ The planning system is almost an anachronism – I think it should be protected at all costs.”

(below) Holmes Road in Camden

n Matt Moody is a section editor with The Planner

The 100-mile city So where should all this new housing go? Can we address the housing crisis without building on the green belt? “Of course we can,” says Barber, matter-of-factly. “The garden city thing, like in Ebbsﬂeet... it’s utter bullshit. It’s just developers trying to get their hands on green belt land. We often get approached about putting things up in the green belt and we haven’t done it because I know exactly what they’re envisaging – a load of boxes with three or four cars parked outside. There’s a lot of thinking in architecture schools at the moment about sustainable new settlements. I don’t think we should be building in the green belt unless we’re talking about radical ideas for settlements that can properly support employment and infrastructure.” One such radical idea, the 100-mile city, was exhibited by Barber himself at the Design Museum in 2018, conceived in response to the Adam Smith Institute’s insistence that the only way to solve London’s housing crisis is to build on the green belt. A linear city, 100 miles long, 200 metres wide and four storeys high, would wrap around London. A high-speed orbital monorail would connect

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CODESIGNING WITH COMMUNITIES

DESIGN FOR LIVING WE TALK A LOT ABOUT PARTICIPATION IN PLANNING, AND IT TAKES MANY FORMS – BUT WHAT ABOUT CODESIGN – THE PRINCIPLE OF WORKING EQUALLY WITH CITIZENS ON THE DESIGN OF BUILDINGS AND PLACES? NICOLA HOMER RUNS THE RULE OVER CODESIGN IN THE UK

onsider showing an image of cool architecture in a faceto-face engagement. When you talk with your audience, people give opinions based on their own backgrounds and perspectives. Yet do they know the answer to how the building works? This is where co-designing with communities can make a diﬀerence to planners in a consultation, by facilitating a knowledge-sharing process. “When we do a normal engagement, we show images of buildings, we get feedback on them, but nobody actually knows how it is going to work. Co-design goes that one step further and starts to explore that,” says Sue Manns, the president of the RTPI for 2020. Although there is not one deﬁned principle of co-design, in a planning context it refers to the joint design of buildings and places by professionals and the people who will use them, usually through charrettes, workshops and seminars. It is a participatory process that acknowledges that users – members of

the community – have an expertise drawn from experience that complements that of trained professionals. “In essence, what a community in a very interactive way can do is shape the brief,” explains Kevin Murray, past president of the RTPI and founding director of The Academy of Urbanism. “They then can evaluate diﬀerent schemes, maybe by developers or designers, or other players, and they can assess the schemes against their brief.” Key to the success of co-designing with communities is having a skilled facilitator to make sure that all voices are given equal weight and space. “When we are planning co-design we need to make sure that we involve people with very diﬀerent

“IF YOU WANT BETTER LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, DON’T SPEAK PURELY TO CLIENTS, CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERS, SPEAK TO THE TEACHERS AND THE PUPILS”

backgrounds, very different approaches, very different ages, “because diversity of the group and diversity of thinking within that group is absolutely critical”, says Manns. Tools have been developed that can aid the process. In Scotland, every council in Scotland has used the RTPI Award-winning Place Standard tool, which identifies priorities in areas for communities. It was produced though a collaboration of Architecture + Design Scotland, NHS Health Scotland and the national government. In his experience of using the tool within health settings, says Jim MacDonald, chief executive of Architecture + Design Scotland, co-design has genuinely produced places that function better for the community. Its approach, which provides a simple – and visual – framework around which to structure conversations about place, can be applied as easily to strategic place planning as it can to planning better health services or decarbonisation in response to climate change. MacDonald says that, through the new

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Tŷ Pawb in Wrexham brings together arts and markets

Planning Act and forthcoming revisions to the National Planning Framework, the Scottish Government is encouraging all planning authorities to work in a participatory way. There are practical obstacles to overcome, including skills deﬁcits and the reduction in the numbers of public sector planners over the past 10 years, yet Macdonald is very positive about potential outcomes. “From our perspective as a national champion for good design in the built environment we don’t think there’s any other way than working closely with users, because all the evidence that we have got from our work, that’s where you get the best outcomes in terms of the design quality, the support that the users get, and the outcomes that the money is being invested to achieve,” he says. “So, if you want better learning environments, don’t speak purely to clients, contractors and engineers, speak to the teachers and the pupils, and the parents and the community in which the school is. “Similarly for a health environment, for a whole town, that’s where you begin to T Y PAW B I M A G E S | J A M E S M O R R I S

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“WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE INVOLVE PEOPLE WITH VERY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, VERY DIFFERENT APPROACHES, VERY DIFFERENT AGES”

understand how things work, and that’s how you can use design to respond to those [people’s] needs in creative and imaginative ways.” James Davies, chief executive of Planning Aid Wales (PAW), agrees that it is important to engage with the users of spaces and places. “For me, planning is about people as much as it is about places. We should be planning with rather than for communities.” The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, places a legal duty on all public bodies to deliver sustainable

development and to improve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Welsh citizens. The act has established the Future Generations Commissioner’s Oﬃce, which holds public bodies to account in relation to its requirements. Alongside its well-being goals, the act requires public sector service providers to work collaboratively with communities. “Requiring earlier community involvement could go some way to ensuring meaningful input into scheme design,” Davies observes. PAW itself recognises the potential beneﬁts that digital engagement can bring to a planning system with limited resources. This month (April) it plans to launch an online video training platform for communities wishing to engage with the planning system.

Meaningful participation In Designing Disorder: Experiments and Disruptions in the City, urbanists Richard Sennett and Pablo Sendra contend that co-design oﬀers local authority planners a radical opportunity to change public space

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for the better. But it’s an approach that is not without risk – for both citizens and professionals. “There is a window of opportunity here,” they write. “Local authorities and other institutions are starting to consider ‘codesign processes’ in creating public spaces. Although one must be cautious with the branding of participatory processes, since many of them imply forms of tokenism, some local authorities are exploring innovative forms of co-design and are starting to accept the risk of uncertainty.” For the public sector the risk is in a loss of influence through a transfer of power from local authorities to local people. Such risk – of an imbalance of power either way – is perhaps magnified where participatory processes are not codified within planning systems. As Angela Koch at Imagine Places says: “Communities and neighbourhood planning groups are very keen to participate in co-design processes concerned with important planning applications in their locality. However, the current planning system [in England] does not legally require applicants to facilitate meaningful co-design work throughout the application process.” Those who have experienced effective co-design approaches are keen to see them used as a matter of course. “I think we’re going to be seeing more of this as the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission report comes through,” notes Vanessa Gregory, chair of Look St Albans, which worked with the local planning authority on a consultation about the historic city’s civic centre. “The look and the feel of the development will play a large part in getting the community to accept new development.” Despite the potential for co-design to give citizens a more positive role in planning there remains a formidable obstacle: as a 2019 survey by property group Grosvenor revealed, there is a significant lack of public trust in developers and the planning system. It is at least partly up to planners to overcome this hurdle, says Sendra, who teaches a co-design continuing professional development course at UCL’s Bartlett School of Planning. “Most importantly, you need to gain the trust of people that are participating,” he stresses. “The best way to do this is through carefully listening to them and incorporating their ideas in the design. They need to be genuinely participating in the design.”

THE POLICY POSITION

England Chapter 12 , para 129 of the NPPF says:: “Local planning authorities should ensure that they have access to, and make appropriate use of, tools and processes for assessing and improving the design of development. These include workshops to engage the local community…”

Wales Planning Policy Wales 10 (2018) and the draft National Development Framework (2019) each recognise the role of community involvement in Place Plans. Tools facilitate a culture of co-design for planners, including the Design Commission for Wales’s ‘Shape my Town’ toolkit and Planning Aid Wales’s ‘Place Plans Toolkit’.

Scotland The 2020 Planning Act promotes community engagement through local place plans; a revised National Planning Framework is in process and community participation in planning is strengthened by the Community Empowerment Act (2015), the Place Standard tool and a Place Principle.

Northern Ireland Councils have a duty to create a community planning partnership and produce a community plan. Partnerships consist of the council and statutory, education, community, voluntary and business groups.

Communities and the organisations that represent them need to be treated with respect by professionals, insists Eileen Conn, coordinator of Peckham Vision. The group has been heavily involved in co-design of several projects in the South London suburb, which has twice been named one of the coolest neighbourhoods globally by Time Out magazine. In particular Peckham Vision took a role in shaping the redevelopment of the historic Peckham Rye Station between 2013 and 2016. After initial enthusiasm, however, Conn is critical of the results and says opportunities were missed in exploring ways that the space could be used. “Co-design must not be seen as a quick ﬁx by adding the letters ‘co’ before all the other processes. It needs a transformative shift in the institutions’ and the professionals’ understanding of how to work with people who live and work in neighbourhoods,” she concludes. n Nicola Homer is a freelance journalist specialising in the arts and planning

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CODESIGNING WITH COMMUNITIES

Co-design across the UK England: Play Wimbledon London, England Pablo Sendra of Seville-based Legadero led a process looking at how two public spaces in the town centre could be improved: a cul-de-sac running alongside the popular pub Alexandra pub and a road junction beside New Wimbledon Theatre. Sendra’s approach was twofold, employing codesign workshops with residents and businesses and creating playful activities and installations in situ to test potential uses of the spaces. Preliminary designs, following feedback from residents, were presented to Merton Council and informed the Future Wimbledon masterplan. “Our codesign process has inﬂuenced the masterplan, through doing a type of engagement that goes beyond the formal consultation,” says Sendra (see bit.ly/planner0520Wimbledon)

Wales: Tŷ Pawb (Everyone’s House)

[Above] The setting of The New Wimbledon Theatre in South London has been re-envisaged [Below] Tŷ Pawb cultural centre in Wrexham

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Wrexham, Wales Tŷ Pawb is the name given to a new model for art spaces, which involved relocating the town’s Oriel Gallery into an existing building that already housed a multistorey car park and a market hall. By mingling arts, including exhibitions and live performance, with the building’s everyday use, Tŷ Pawb aims to make the arts more accessible and relevant to people’s lives. The co-design process took two routes: artist

Tim Denton led community workshops to create furniture for the food court, and architecture practice Featherstone and Young worked with residents on the concept of ‘baggy space’, in which designers “do as little as they need to do in order for other people to take ownership”. “From a planning perspective, this is a project that helps to regenerate the town centre,” says architect Sarah Featherstone. “You can just work with what is there and make it better.”

Scotland: Queens Quay Clydebank, Scotland Regeneration of the derelict former John Brown shipyard is being supported by West Dunbartonshire Council’s Place & Design Panel, a pool of built environment professionals plus artists, historians, accessibility experts and others with local knowledge. The council convened the panel to raise the standard of design of buildings and places by offering objective and professional advice to designers, developers and other council services”. A young placemakers panel also brought young people’s perspectives into the process. “Quality design is not only just about the buildings,” says Pamela Clifford, the council’s chief planning office. “It is also about the landscaping and that is something that has come out of the panel, the importance of the environment surrounding buildings.”

Northern Ireland: Seamus Heaney HomePlace Bellaghy, Northern Ireland The RTPI Award-winning Seamus Heaney HomePlace houses an exhibition space, a performance space, a community meeting space and a gateway for tourists to the wetlands and mountains. Northern Ireland, like the rest of the UK, promotes pre-application community consultation. But in this case the council, as the owner and developer, was able to oﬀer full participation in the planning process. Early in the design process, architects and planners worked with members of the Heaney family, the Bellaghy village community, and user groups from the arts, education and tourism sector, as well as statutory consultees. This process was integral to developing the building’s character. For example, the council worked with Heaney’s family to ensure that personal items belonging to Seamus Heaney were respectfully housed, the performance space was designed to house a large audience while maintaining an intimacy, and the design respected the historic form of this plantation village.

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THE REALITY OF VIRTUAL HOW WELL IS THE PLANNING SYSTEM COPING WITH LOCKDOWN? SIMON WICKS OFFERS A SNAPSHOT OF PLANNING’S NEW RELIANCE ON COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY Although remote and ‘agile’ working, along with ‘virtual’ processes, have been creeping into the planning system for some years, it’s been a piecemeal evolution. Will we now see that technology can allow the planning system to function entirely remotely or does an inescapable need for direct human contact remain? Diﬀerent parts of the system have coped with remote working in diﬀerent ways, though the same platforms keep coming to the fore. You could be forgiven for thinking that without Zoom, Microsoft Teams and WhatsApp, the entire system would have hit the rails in late March.

Working from home This has proved relatively seamless, perhaps because it has been an

established option for many. Staﬀ wasted no time turning physical workplaces into virtual ones. Businesses are using either the video platform Zoom or Microsoft Teams to communicate internally and with clients and applicants. Both platforms oﬀer document sharing and virtual events tools. Skype and teleconferencing systems such as PowWowNow have also been useful, and The Planner is using Google Hangouts. But the surprise app here is WhatsApp – its ubiquity and usability make it almost indispensable. These platforms also help maintain the many informal contacts that bind a workplace. We’ve heard of 5pm drinks on a Friday, weekly artistic challenges and bingo all conducted using remote technologies.

Council committee meetings The Coronavirus Act 2020 has given local authorities permission to hold meetings and votes virtually. Councils have adopted a variety of approaches to keep decision-making going. Some have expanded delegated decision-making; others have held virtual or semi-virtual meetings – or a combination of both. The London Borough of Waltham Forest held its 31 March planning committee meeting with a physical quorum of seven councillors, all socially distanced and provided with a screen, microphone and camera. And 45 applicants, objectors and interested parties took part in the meeting using Microsoft Teams. The council’s head of digital, Paul Neville, remarked on Twitter: “It worked great.”

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Tech T {LANDSCAPE Legal proceedings PEBA – the Planning and Environment Bar Association - already had guidelines for remote proceedings so the legal profession adapted quickly. Barristers from two chambers – Kings and No.5 – submitted proposals for using remote technology to keep the appeals service working. PINS has said it is actively considering remote technologies (see below). Judges have been quick to employ remote methods where proceedings have been relatively straightforward to manage (see ‘The virtual hearing’, right). Kings Chambers also conducted a mock virtual planning inquiry and concluded: “We consider the move to remote appeals, including examination of witnesses, is a practical and viable option in order to maintain casework during the coronavirus restrictions.”

Planning appeals The Planning Inspectorate stopped physical site visits, encouraging parties to agree on virtual site visits where the relevant information could be gathered. PINS is also encouraging applicants to request written appeals rather than hearings and inquiries, which have been suspended for the time being. On 1 April the inspectorate said it was “exploring” technology that would allow casework that would allow casework to continue “in an open, fair and impartial way." As The Planner went to press there had been no further update.

Public consultation and engagement Virtual consultation is well established, but engagement professionals caution against relying on a single approach. Much engagement technology requires people to quickly pinpoint problems or express preferences and is designed to be used alongside more thorough forms of consultation, on and offline. “If you provide methods that make people respond really quickly, you will only ever get really quick answers,” notes Zander Wilson, doctoral trainee in digital civics at Open Lab. “Think about what you are trying to get out of technology before you employ it.” Mike Conway, director of Camargue Communications, observes: “Communities and their representatives expect to have an opportunity to look the project team in the eye, express their concerns, understand who is behind the proposals and ask their questions directly at a public event. Online consultation must do all it can to maintain that expectation of human contact and connection with the team.”

THE VIRTUAL HEARING

Barrister Piers Riley-Smith from Kings Chambers took part in a virtual oral permission hearing for a judicial review in late March. Its seven participants (judge, a senior and junior barrister on each side, a solicitor and the client calling for a review) used Zoom and WhatsApp. “The judge was on video and audio,” explains Riley-Smith. “Senior barristers had camera and audio, and the audio was only on when they were speaking. So everyone could see the judge and the senior barristers. “The junior barristers and solicitor didn’t have cameras and their audio was muted. The client was also on mute, unless asked a direct question.” At the judge’s suggestion, each side had its own WhatsApp group for private communication. “What was really impressive was how OK the judge was with this technology,” says Riley-Smith. “In terms of planning in the courts I don’t think that [complexity] will be an issue because judicial review doesn’t include cross-examination and witnesses. It’s much more of a challenge for planning appeals and hearings.”

Events Covid-19 may prove a boon for conferences, seminars and workshops as organisers rush to conduct events online. The Transport Planning Society, for example, held its annual general meeting virtually and will run

its annual Transport Planning Day campaign completely online. Even the RTPI Awards are being conducted online, using a pre-recorded video to be broadcast ‘as live’ on the institute’s YouTube channel on 29 April.

REMOTE WORKING TECH: HOW YOU’RE USING IT

What are we learning? Gillian Nicks, associate director, CBRE: “We’re having weekly sessions using Teams and Zoom and we’re looking to do the same with local planning authorities on preapplications. Some elements of the planning process still rely on paper so it will be interesting to see how local planning authorities can respond with end-to-end digitisation.” Meeta Kaur, partner at Town Legal said: “We use WhatsApp because almost all the team already knew it and had used it before, regardless of age or IT ability. It’s great for large group messaging.” Luke Hilson, design director at Barton Willmore, said: “Communication between team members and clients has increased compared to normal. This may partly be due to ensuring that everyone is getting on OK. However, it may also be that you can catch up with a few people virtually in the same time it would have taken to drive to a meeting and back. It’s increased the speed at which many people were moving towards more agile working.”

Organisations are proving adaptable and inventive in using technology to keep processes moving. But planning is finally about the physical shaping and experience of space: construction and site visits, for example, are far less possible in a lockdown. Moreover, public participation in democratic processes and the transparency and quality of decisionmaking are a concern in a virtual world, as Sarah Fitzpatrick, head of planning for Norton Rose Fulbright, stresses on page 6.

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N AT I O N S &REGIONS

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G I N T H E S O U T H W E S T ? HERE’S A ROUNDUP OF KEY PROJECTS AND EVENTS IN THE REGION IN 2020

The South West IN THE PIPELINE

A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down (Stonehenge) The government is about to give the go-ahead to a major improvement to the A303 in Wiltshire involving the stretch close to Stonehenge. The subject of an application for a development consent order, the £1.7 billion scheme will involve a tunnel two miles long past Stonehenge and a further eight miles of surface work, including a bypass of Winterbourne Stoke village; all will be dual carriageway. Apart from easing the serious congestion at this point, the scheme will conserve and enhance the Outstanding Universal Value of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. At time of writing it was anticipated that the secretary of state would issue a formal decision in early April. bit.ly/planner0520-Stonehenge

Western Gateway/Porth y Gorllewin This new ‘economic partnership’ across South Wales and western England covers an area with a population of 4.4 million. It originated in a report that was put to the governments of Wales and England in July Southmead 2019 by Bristol, Cardiﬀ and Newport Estate – collectively calling themselves ‘the regeneration Great Western Cities’. The partnership has been dubbed the UK’s third pan-regional ‘powerhouse’ partnership. It is, however, unique as a cross-nation initiative, taking in councils across South Wales, the west of England, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire, together with three LEPs and the English and Welsh governments. bit.ly/planner0520-Western

Swanage Pier

RECENT SUCCESSES

Southmead regeneration Highly commended in the RTPI South West Awards, this community-led project aims to improve the centre of Bristol’s Southmead Estate, one of the UK’s most deprived wards. The work of the Nash Partnership and Streets Reimagined, involving the community to a degree beyond what would usually be expected, has enabled the Southmead Development Trust to ‘convert’ its community plan into a masterplan including new housing and other facilities linking to the emerging city local plan. bit.ly/planner0520-Southmead

Swanage Pier restoration and regeneration This £2.2m project – also highly commended in the RTPI South West Awards – involved repairing an at-risk pier and

refurbishing the adjacent grade II listed Marine Villas to create new interpretation, catering and retail experiences, as well as an educational case study package. Brought to fruition by consultancy Footprint Futures, working as project manager, and the Swanage Pier Trust. bit.ly/planner0520-Swanage

‘The Wave’ inland surf lagoon England’s first inland surf lagoon is in Almondsbury, South Gloucestershire, on 29.4ha of former green belt. It’s a 180-metre long lake creating up to a thousand artificial waves an hour, each up to 2m high. The decision to grant planning permission was based on ‘very special circumstances’ involving a balancing exercise between harm caused to the openness of the green belt and the potential benefits to health and wellbeing and the local economy. bit.ly/planner0520-Wave

I M AG E S | A L A M Y / RO B E RT G R E S H O F F P H O T O G R A P H Y

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Regional contact details: southwest@rtpi.org.uk

See more on the South West at the Nations and Regions gateway: bit.ly/PlannerGateway

INSIGHT: SOMERDALE

The redevelopment of the site of the former Fry’s/Cadbury’s chocolate factory in Keynsham, between Bristol and Bath, was overall winner at the 2019 RTPI South West Awards for Planning Excellence. The project was lauded for its combination of clear vision and collaborative working, with organisations involved ranging from Taylor Wimpey (housing), Barton Willmore (overall site planmaker and project manager), the St Monica Trust and Tetlow King (conversion of the factory buildings). New housing, commercial uses, retirement apartments, a care home, doctors’ surgery and a new school have all been built in such a way as to celebrate the site’s heritage. The Somerdale site has been a landmark for generations. At its peak, the factory employed more than 5,000 people while providing important community and sports facilities. But in 2010, the Kraft takeover of Cadbury’s ultimately led, despite earlier reassurances concerning Somerdale and the protection of Cadbury’s UK manufacturing, to closure of the plant. Concerns about job losses and the perceived threat of development made the future of the factory a high-proﬁle

COMING UP

Design Leadership & Skills 28 September, Exeter bit.ly/planner0520SWDesign2020

and politically sensitive project for the sub-region. Barton Willmore project-managed and oversaw 19 specialist consultants and secured planning permission for the 90-hectare site. Constraints were numerous and complex, ranging from flood risk, green belt, ecology and important trees, maintaining and improving sports provision, numerous factory buildings, contamination – and the Roman town of Trajectus, found beneath part of the site. Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES) engaged with Kraft Foods (as landowner) and Taylor Wimpey (which subsequently acquired the site postpermission), setting out their ambitions for an exemplar development on one of their key regeneration sites. Challenges were extensive. More than half the site was affected by flooding and not developable, half was in the green belt, and part of the Roman town of Trajectus was subsequently COR N WA L L designated a Scheduled Ancient

The Natural Environment – Planning for a Green Future 20 October, Exeter bit.ly/planner0520SWNatEnv2020

Monument. On top of this, sports pitches required relocation; there were a variety of ecological constraints; and a policy requirement obliged delivery of 700 dwellings, a primary school, pre-school and new community/sports club on site. Just six months after Barton Willmore’s submission of a hybrid application, permission from B&NES planning committee was granted unanimously. The completed development’s community beneﬁts are impressive – comprising a neighbourhood surrounded by walkable, permeable streets and open spaces, with green corridors and riverside walks to G L O U C E ST E RS H I R E open countryside beyond. B r i s to l W I LT S H I R E

S OM E RS E T

Development Management and Planning Law Update 18 November, Bristol bit.ly/planner0520Law2020 CONTACTS

The challenges of delivering Housing

Integrating low-carbon transport into the planning process

7 October, Bournemouth bit.ly/planner0520SWHousing2020

11 November, Swindon bit.ly/planner0520Transport2020

D OR S E T

DE VON E xe te r

Regional Chair – Dawn de Vries, principal planning oﬃcer for Sedgemoor District Council Regional Web Address –

www.rtpi.org.uk/southwest Events - www.rtpi.org.uk/ southwestevents Annual Review - www.rtpi. org.uk/southwest South West Young Planners – www.rtpi.org.uk/swyp Email: southwest@rtpi.org.uk Twitter : @RTPISouthWest

NEXT MONTH:

Ireland MAY 2 0 20 / THE PLA NNER

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CASES &DECISIONS

A N A LY S E D B Y M A T T M O O D Y / A P P E A L S @ T H E P L A N N E R . C O . U K

Jenrick quashes enforcement against museum for ‘India’s greatest ﬁgure’ The housing secretary has quashed enforcement action against a museum commemorating the Indian statesman Dr B R Ambedkar that was set up in a Camden townhouse bought and converted by an Indian state government in 2015. The appeal concerned a four-storey townhouse in Primrose Hill, North London. In 2015, the house was bought for £3 million by the government of Maharashtra, a state in western India, and converted from two ﬂats into a museum commemorating Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. Ambedkar was a scholar and civil rights activist known best for drafting India’s constitution after it won independence in 1947. He lived at the appeal property from 1921 to 1922, while studying at the LSE. The house has operated as a free-to-visit museum since the Indian prime minister inaugurated it in 2015. It features a gallery, reading room, and a statue of Dr Ambedkar in its rear garden. In January 2018 the museum was reported to the council, which found that the change of use from class C3 to D1 was unauthorised, rejected a retrospective application for permission and began enforcement action. At the inquiry the council did not dispute Dr Ambedkar’s “importance in the social, economic and political development of India”, but

LOCATION: Primrose Hill AUTHORITY: Camden Borough Council

INSPECTOR: K L Williams PROCEDURE: Recovered appeal DECISION: Allowed REFERENCE: APP/ X5210/C/18/3219239

said he was not of national importance in the UK. A museum was not justiﬁed, it argued, because

there was not “a suﬃciently strong link between Dr Ambedkar, his achievements and this ordinary suburban house, where he spent one year as a student”, to justify allowing the appeal. The appellants, however, referred to Dr Ambedkar’s “god-like status” in India, noting that in a 2012 poll of 18 million Indians, he had been voted “the greatest ﬁgure in Indian history”. They described the museum to him as “particularly important to the Indian diaspora”, which numbered 437,000 in London alone in 2011. It was helping to highlight the historical links between India and Britain,

they argued, and the loss of two flats amounted to only a “minute fraction” of the council’s housing supply. Williams found “ample evidence to demonstrate the stature of Dr Ambedkar”, stating that he was a “major figure in both Indian and British history”. The museum was “well presented and welcoming”, he continued, and the fact that the blue plaque was not installed under the English Heritage scheme carried little weight. Concluding that the dismissal of the appeal would be contrary to the Equality Act 2010, he recommended that the enforcement notice should be quashed and permission granted. Allowing the appeal, secretary of state Robert Jenrick agreed with his inspector, ruling that “the benefit of having a museum dedicated to Dr Ambedkar in a location which has strong associations with him and which is readily accessible by public transport weighs significantly in favour of the scheme”. • Following the decision, a spokesperson for the council said: “Whilst we are disappointed that the Planning Inspectorate ruled against the council’s original decision, we do accept and respect the decision that has been made given the additional evidence presented by the appellant at the inquiry regarding Dr Ambedkar, who was a major figure in Indian and British history, and his association with this property.”

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These are just a few of the 40 or so appeal reports that we post each month on our website: www.theplanner.co.uk/decisions

Newmarket homes approved after 10-year legal battle Plans to develop a greenﬁeld site in Newmarket that have been the subject of several court decisions since 2009 have been ratiﬁed by the housing secretary, who rejected concerns of the town’s horse-racing industry.

Housing secretary ignores local campaign by allowing 150-home scheme

I M AG E S | G E T T Y / A L A M Y

Developer Gladman has been granted permission to build 150 homes on greenfield land at Long Melford, Suffolk, despite unanimous opposition from Babergh District Council and a local protest group. Gladman’s application, submitted in 2018, was unanimously rejected by councillors, leading to an appeal that was recovered for determination by the secretary of state the following summer. The plans sparked fierce opposition from local people, who formed a protest group that was granted rule six status at the inquiry. They also raised £30,000 to fund legal costs in fighting the scheme. Stone recommended the application for approval, advising that its benefits outweighed the “minor harm” he had identified. In his own decision letter, housing secretary Robert Jenrick agreed that the appellant had demonstrated a specific local need for both market and affordable housing, in line with local policy expectations. Turning to the scheme’s impact on the character of the area, Jenrick further agreed that in changing an open field into a housing estate, the scheme would intrinsically cause harm. However, having agreed that there was LOCATION: Long Melford nothing that elevated the site to “valued landscape” AUTHORITY: Babergh District Council status for the purposes of NPPF paragraph 170, he INSPECTOR: Kenneth Stone gave this only moderate weight. PROCEDURE: Recovered appeal In the planning balance, Jenrick commented that DECISION: Allowed while the council was now able to demonstrate a fiveREFERENCE: APP/ year supply of housing, D3505/W/18/3214377 this was “a baseline and not a ceiling”. Concluding that the scheme’s benefits carried decisive weight, he allowed the appeal.

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The application concerned Hatchfield Farm, a greenfield site north of Newmarket. Applicant Edward Stanley, the 19th Earl of Derby, sought permission to build 400 homes on the land. The council had allocated the site for 1,200 homes in 2010, but this plan was quashed by the High Court. Lord Derby’s subsequent bid to build the homes was called in by the then-housing secretary and refused. Two years later, Lord Derby applied to build 400 houses on the land. This application was also called in by thenhousing secretary Sajid Javid, who refused consent contrary to the advice of his inspector. However, this decision was overturned by a High Court judge, who described Javid’s decision as “plainly deficient”. The latest inquiry was attended by a rule six party, Newmarket Horsemen’s Group, which said the scheme would be detrimental to the racing industry in the town and in the UK, which it described as “the jewel in the crown of British sport”.

LOCATION: Newmarket AUTHORITY: West Suffolk Council INSPECTOR: Richard Schofield PROCEDURE: Calledin decision DECISION: Allowed REFERENCE: APP/ H3510/V/14/2222871

Inspector Richard Schoﬁeld was not persuaded that the development would “threaten the long-term viability of the horse racing industry in Newmarket”. Conscious of the town’s status as “one of the most sustainable settlements in West Suﬀolk”, he recommended approval. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick agreed that evidence regarding what had changed since the previous inquiry “did not indicate an industry in decline or at risk”, and allowed the appeal.

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C&D { C No security gates for Birmingham’s wealthiest private estate

LOCATION: Little Aston Park AUTHORITY: Lichfield District Council INSPECTOR: Jonathan Edwards PROCEDURE: Written submissions DECISION: Dismissed REFERENCE: APP/ K3415/W/19/3243673

The appeal concerned Little Aston Park, a private estate in Sutton Coldﬁeld that has acquired a reputation as the most aﬄuent area in the West Midlands. It comprises more than 100 unique homes, including the most expensive house in Birmingham, which sold for £7.5 million in 2017. The estate is a designated conservation area characterised by “very large detached houses with long driveways”, many of which have their own security systems.

Paragraph 79 design is ‘not totally convincing’ An inspector has rejected plans for a home, stable, outdoor learning area and lapwing nesting area in Bolton’s green belt, ruling that there was nothing ‘uniquely novel’ about the appellant’s design approach. The appeal concerned eight acres of crescent-shaped pasture ﬁeld on the edge of Egerton, curving around the appellant’s existing converted barn home. The appellant sought permission to build an “exceptional, communityfocused zero carbon home” in the centre of the site, along with a detached stable block, an outdoor learning area for local schoolchildren, and a wildlife area dedicated to lapwing nesting. There was no dispute that the scheme would be inappropriate green belt

development. Instead, the appellant sought permission under national policy provision for homes of outstanding or innovative design. The scheme was assessed by a local design review panel, which said that although it was an improvement on earlier iterations, it was not a “totally convincing work of architecture that could be described as ‘outstanding’”.

In 2019, LAPRA (Little Aston Park Residents’ Association) sought permission to install gates at three access points to the park from the surrounding roads. The council refused permission against the advice of its oﬃcers, citing harm to social cohesion. The issue divided residents, with 79 objecting to the plans and 57 in favour. At the resulting appeal, inspector Jonathan Edwards noted that the gates would have a “marked visual eﬀect” despite being set back from

the road, and would remain closed for “signiﬁcant periods of time”. They would therefore appear as “imposing physical barriers at odds with policies that aim to promote social cohesion and integration”, the inspector ruled. Some residents contended that the scheme would alleviate the fear of crime on the estate, following the murder of a resident in 2017. Edwards dismissed this suggestion, noting that not all of the access points to the park would be gated.

Inspector Brendan Lyons agreed. The parties were at odds over what is meant by the term ‘innovative’. Lyons said that while “the application of previously tried techniques to evolve understanding of their potential” could be regarded as innovative, “there must be some element of a uniquely novel approach”. The proposal would be unique in its design, he noted, but would involve “an assemblage of forms and materials that are well tried and tested”. Indeed, the use of insulated concrete formwork proposed “had been used several times within the borough alone”.

He agreed with the council’s comment that “the design of individual dwellings to achieve very high standards of sustainable performance should now be regarded more as the norm than the exception”, and while “commendable”, was not innovative.

I M AG E S | G E T T Y / A L A M Y / I STO C K / S H U T T E RSTO C K

Controversial plans for security gates at the entrance to a private Sutton Coldﬁeld estate known as ‘Millionaire’s Row’ that divided its residents have been rejected for harming social cohesion.

LOCATION: Egerton AUTHORITY: Bolton Council INSPECTOR: Brendan Lyons PROCEDURE: Hearing DECISION: Dismissed REFERENCE: APP/ N4205/W/19/3229616

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DECISIONS DIGEST{

SUBSCRIBE to our appeals digest:

https://subs.theplanner. co.uk/register

Successful relocation for popular village ‘pizza garage’ A popular wood-ﬁred pizza business that was refused permission at appeal in 2018 has won consent after moving into new premises 170 metres away, after an inspector deemed the new location more “discreet”. bit.ly/planner0520-Pizza

700home scheme allowed despite development plan conflict

Existing antisuicide fencing preferred to redesigned alternative

An inspector has granted outline permission for a major housing scheme on the Isle of Sheppey after ﬁnding no harm was posed to an important local green gap and a listed farmhouse adjacent to the site. bit.ly/planner0520-Sheppey

A heritage group’s alternative plans for antisuicide fencing on the grade-II listed Archway Bridge in North London have been rejected by an inspector who ruled that the new design would be less eﬀective in terms of public safety. bit.ly/planner0520-Archway

‘Castle keep’ cylindrical homes refused on Devon coast

Guest cabins at historic hotel otel could harm red squirrels rels Plans for three shepherd’s cabinss in the grounds of a listed Lake District trict hotel frequented by William am Wordsworth have been blocked for heritage and ecology reasons. ons. bit.ly/planner0520-Squirrels rels

An inspector has rejected plans for three bespoke cylindrical homes in a protected coastal area in the South Devon AONB, citing various clashes with the local development plan. bit.ly/planner0520-Castle y/planner0520-Castle

Brewery Brew ttap on iindustrial d t i l estate t t has ‘feel of a pub’

Juice bar is a retail use despite spite Google ‘dwell data’

A brewery bre tap at an industrial estate brewery in Morecambe “very much had the feeling o of a pub” and went beyond what could be considered an ancillary use, an inspector ha as ruled. bit.ly/planner0520-Tap has

A central London juice bar hass been deemed a class A1 retail use by y an inspector, who rejected the council’s uncil’s argument that Google Maps “dwell dwell data” showed that people were e “eating in” at the premises. bit.ly/planner0520-Juice

Coliving tower on top of energy centre rejected

Extended ‘cherry erry season’ would not disrupt locals

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A council-owned developer’s plan to build 14 storeys of co-living space on top of an already-approved energy centre in Woking has been rejected by an inspector, who criticised the scheme’s “monolithic” design. bit.ly/planner0520-Monolith

An inspector has removed ed a condition stipulating that a farm m in Kent could only process cherries erries grown in the county, ruling that hat year-round processing of imported ted fruit would not “erode local residents’ ents’ amenity”. bit.ly/planner0520-Cherry er0520-Cherry

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LLegal landscape OPINION

First Homes: delivery or déjà vu? A consultation on the government’s First Home scheme raises several questions about the viability of such a scheme within the current aﬀordable housing framework, says Meeta Kaur. Will it go the way of the failed starter homes programme?

In February the government arrangements but can demonstrated its resolve outsource this function. to follow through on its n They will be exempt from manifesto commitment CIL. to achieving affordable home ownership for all, by So far so (relatively) clear, launching its ‘First Homes’ but things start to become consultation. The headline less clear when it comes features of First Homes, to the fundamental issue which is in essence a form of of delivery. Two routes are discount market housing, are proposed: first, creating a as follows: new requirement for developers n They will be “A SIGNIFICANT to deliver First properties sold IMPACT ON Homes with at a discount, to VIABILITY AND market housing, be retained in A SQUEEZE either through perpetuity, of at ON OTHER policy or least 30 per cent AFFORDABLE legislative change; on market value, and second, with independent HOUSING TENURES COULD amending the valuations to BE THE FALLOUT existing entrybe carried out REGARDLESS OF level exception on first and all WHICH OPTION site policy. subsequent sales THE GOVERNMENT Although the to protect the CHOOSES” latter is fairly discount. straightforward, n They will be the implications subject to a price of the first are cap, figures of rather more far£450,000 to reaching. £600,000 are In relation to the first route suggested but possibly to be the consultation goes on to regionally defined. propose two options: n Priority will be given to local first-time buyers: key workers and members of the n Prescribing a percentage armed forces. of affordable homes required through s106 agreements be n They must be used as the delivered as First Homes; or purchaser’s sole or main residence and there will be n Prescribing a percentage restrictions on letting. of all units in developments of 10 or more that must be n Local authorities will be delivered as First Homes. tasked with administering

It is clear that the government is concerned that local authorities will try to dodge delivering First Homes and so views the second option as more robust. But at the same time it acknowledges the impact the second option may have on viability and depressing delivery of other forms of affordable housing, infrastructure and other developer obligations. However, a significant impact on viability and a squeeze on other affordable housing tenures could be the fallout regardless of which option the government chooses, and this is where the lack of detail in the consultation raises more questions than it answers. Will First Homes be treated as affordable housing in a formal NPPF planning policy sense and, if so, will the percentage requirement be in addition to existing policylevel requirements or will they simply be another form of intermediate tenure? If required as a site-wide percentage of all units, could they still be used to meet some or all intermediate affordable housing requirements or, again, is this intended to be in addition to the affordable housing, but with a global percentage requirement?

The issue of how First Homes requirements will work alongside aﬀordable housing policy in adopted development plans will also need addressing. Inserting First Homes as a bolt-on to existing development plan policy, where that policy has been arrived at by properly assessing local need and the viability of those policies at the plan-making stage, will need careful manoeuvring. The consultation closes on 1 May. Meeta Kaur is a founding partner of Town Legal LLP

In brief The government has launched its consultation on First Homes, as promised in its manifesto But it is not clear what the delivery route will be – policy or legal change, or amending entry-level exception site policy? Either could affect viability and squeeze out other forms of affordable housing and infrastructure contributions. Will First Homes replace existing affordable housing or be an addition to it? Developers and local authorities are likely to be concerned.

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Preparing for a crisis is hospitals designed to look an essential part of any after ‘surge’ cases of Covid-19 government’s remit, but in key hotspots – that are key crises are difficult things to to the government’s strategy. predict. Even in a system Getting such hospitals set up as flexible as the UK’s swiftly is critical, but at the lawmakers are facing a first Nightingale Hospital in significant challenge keeping east London, the application up with the pace of change for planning permission had set by the current pandemic. to be made in such a way These challenges that despite vary enormously – the hospital “EVEN IN A from repurposing commencing SYSTEM AS the manufacturing operation, the FLEXIBLE sector through to permission was AS THE UK’S, logistics planning not yet officially LAWMAKERS for food supplies – determined. ARE FACING A so it is no surprise Although SIGNIFICANT that the planning it’s extremely CHALLENGE system is facing unlikely, this KEEPING UP some unique leaves the WITH THE PACE issues too. development OF CHANGE SET We’ve all seen open to legal the unprecedented BY THE CURRENT challenge – PANDEMIC” steps taken to highlighting the establish the challenges the new Nightingale government and Hospitals – field local authorities

Planning for a crisis: how planning law is responding to Covid-19 A balance between rapid response and robust legislating must be struck in responding to emergencies, says Keith Lancaster

face in balancing immediate necessity with legal process. It’s paramount that these risks are mitigated so vital facilities can be operated safely without facing the uncertainty of legal proceedings. The good news is that the Welsh Government hasn’t been blind to this and has made pre-emptive changes. On 30 March, it introduced a new permitted development order (2020/367), creating a wide-ranging, but temporary, 12-month permitted development right for ‘Emergency Development by Local Authorities’. It permits “development by a local authority on land owned, leased, occupied or maintained by it” for the purposes of preventing an emergency, mitigating the eﬀects of an emergency, or taking appropriate action in connection with an emergency. The order has two small but relevant caveats: ﬁrst, what if the development was not undertaken by a local authority? And second, what if the development was not on local authority ‘controlled’ land? Assuming that what is or isn’t an emergency is clear enough in practice, the crux of the issue is that under this order a public health body, such as NHS Wales, cannot undertake development in an emergency itself. Although local authorities have joint responsibility for public health, it is not unimaginable that in these testing times a public health body would wish to, or need to, undertake development urgently.

In brief The law must respond rapidly to emergencies, but this can lead to gaps in legislation New temporary PD rights in Wales give emergency powers to local authorities However, public health bodies cannot undertake development themselves

Wales has adapted quickly and commendably to the situation, but developing regulations at speed is always likely to leave gaps. Of course, the priority is exactly where it needs to be – responding to a need for more critical care units ahead of an increase in pressure on the healthcare sector. It’s also true that a good proportion of facilities are publicly controlled assets covered by the order. However, there is evidence that private facilities have been sought, perhaps because of locational convenience or the debatable belief that they could be converted faster. If this order is imitated over the border, lessons should be learnt from Wales so the planning system can be as robust as possible in supporting those battling the virus. These orders may not just be useful in pandemics – as the threat posed by climate change grows, the legal response will be important. Keith Lancaster is a senior associate with Blake Morgan

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NEWS RTPI news pages are edited by Will Finch at the RTPI, 41 Botolph Lane, London EC3R 8DL

Planners commended by RTPI for ‘exceptional’ APC submissions The RTPI has commended five planners for the excellence of their Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) submissions in 2019. The APC is the process by which candidates are able to show that they meet the high standards required to become a Chartered member of the RTPI. There are three routes to Chartered membership through the APC, depending on a candidate’s education and experience – Licentiate, Associate and Experienced Practitioner. The 2019 APC candidates nominated for commendation by the RTPI’s Membership Assessment Advisory Panel were: n Tom Wilson (Associate) – Infrastructure Lead at the Government’s Oxford-Cambridge Arc Unit n Lara Peter (Experienced Practitioner) – Associate, WSP n Catherine O’Toole (Licentiate) – Senior Planner, Pegasus Group n Tillie Baker (Associate) – Planner, Arup n Isabelle Joyce (Licentiate) – Planner, Arup All five candidates spoke of their delight at the news, and of the importance to them, both personally and professionally, of becoming a Chartered member. Tom Wilson said Chartered RTPI membership provided valuable recognition of the specialist skills and experience planning professionals apply every day. He said: “For me, it’s important we value the links between the transport and town planning professions and my Clockwise from top membership of the RTPI and Chartered Institute of Highways left: Catherine O'Toole, Tom Wilson, Lara and Transportation allows me to work across these sectors. Peter, Isabelle Joyce “My advice to prospective APC candidates is to pick and Tillie Baker an interesting case study, apply when you have the right experience and plan enough time to develop your application.” Lara Peter took an unusual route to Chartered membership, completing an undergraduate degree in political science and law at Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster in Germany. She said: “Gaining Chartered membership was a huge milestone in my career, one that I am very proud of having achieved. The Experienced Practitioner route is an excellent way for planners from a variety of backgrounds to gain recognition TILLIE BAKER’S TOP TIPS FOR APC SUCCESS and credibility.” references and provide a bibliography. RTPI Head of Membership n See it as a test of your writing skills. n Be choosy with examples. It’s tempting Martine Koch congratulated The challenge of the APC is to prepare to add as many examples as possible to all five candidates, saying that a submission that is both rich and show you’re meeting the competencies. their submissions were of an illustrative while also being clear and Instead, it’s important to use examples ‘exceptional’ standard: “With concise. It needs to provide a compelling that best illustrate what you’re trying to over 400 candidates submitting summary of your contribution to assessors say. Further detail can be added to your their applications for Chartered who have no prior knowledge about you. logbook or reflective journal. membership of the RTPI via the n Get the basics right. Following the n It is helpful to read other successful APC last year, there is no doubt formatting instructions is one of the submissions to understand how people that a commendation is a great easiest ways to demonstrate that you’ve approach the competencies, but it’s a achievement. It will be exciting to read the guidance. It’s also important to submission about you and should reflect see how they influence the next use footnotes to link the various pieces your personality and your career journey. generation of planners.” of your submission together, make use of

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Editorial E: rtpinews@rtpi.org.uk

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M Y V I E W O N … P U B LI C S EC T O R P L A N N I N G As part of the RTPI’s Chief Planners of Tomorrow scheme, Young Planner Joshua Parkinson learnt about the challenges and opportunities at Carlisle City Council Over the past year, I have developed a growing understanding of the challenges facing public sector planning. The funding cuts to local government and its implications on practice are well documented, but the public sector also offers opportunities to be at the forefront of leading solutions to local, national and global issues. I applied to take part in the Chief Planners of Tomorrow initiative, to see at first hand how planners can be leaders in successfully managing these challenges and opportunities. My day at Carlisle City Council was spent looking at a number of key projects including St Cuthbert’s Garden Village, where I was fascinated to see multidisciplinary teams from both the public and private sector working together to share expertise. Later, a meeting about the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal involved local authorities, Scottish Government and a senior civil servant providing an interesting dynamic between local, regional and national priorities while exemplifying the intensely political nature of planning. It was an action-packed day. Often discussions related to public sector planning rightly focus on the increasingly difficult challenges, but I also saw a range of opportunities. Carlisle City Council is clearly ambitious and with effective leadership it is planning proactively to achieve positive outcomes for the city. n Joshua Parkinson is a planner at Craven District Council in North Yorkshire. He is pictured with Jane Meek, Carlisle City Council’s Corporate Director of Economic Development. For more on the Chief Planners of Tomorrow initiative, visit bit.ly/planner0520-Tomorrow

POSITION POINTS

BUDGET 2020 VICTORIA HILLS, RTPI CHIEF EXECUTIVE We welcome the spending commitments on infrastructure in the chancellor’s Budget for 2020 – there is an urgent need to upgrade much of the country’s existing infrastructure so we can reach net-zero carbon, respond to growing environment risks, accommodate population and demographic change and enable sustainable development. The announcement of a £12 billion aﬀordable housing programme is also good news, as is a 1 per cent interest rate cut on councils borrowing to build homes. We also welcome the £242 million of funding for new City and Growth Deals and believe these should be used to incentivise strategic planning for housing. We are pleased that West Yorkshire is set become a mayoral combined authority, giving it increased powers to lead on strategy for regional transport, skills training and economic development. We have long called for increased devolution and coordinated decision-making across local authorities to enable better alignment of homes, transport and other infrastructure to deliver for communities. This is also essential in meeting net-zero carbon targets.

NEW GOVERNMENT IN IRELAND AIDAN CULHANE, CHAIR OF RTPI IRELAND RTPI Ireland has collaborated with the Irish Planning Institute to prepare a manifesto of key commitments which planners are seeking the new government to commit to with the aim of achieving zero-carbon and climate change targets, building more housing and sustainable communities, tackling homelessness and promoting compact growth. To ensure that the right developments take place in the right place and at the right time, the government must commit to a strengthening of planning departments in local authorities, government and An Bord Pleanála by providing adequate resources and expertise. There must also be a commitment to continue to deliver the National Planning Framework. Other commitments we are seeking include continued investment in the Oﬃce of the Planning Regulator, and the establishment of a register of professionally qualiﬁed planners operating in Ireland who are members of a professional planning institute. We also want to see the establishment of statutory city/county planner roles in each local authority. Read the manifesto in full at bit.ly/planner0520-Ireland2020

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NEWS

RTPI N E W S

Female planners face sexism at work, says study Women working in town planning still face barriers climbing the professional ladder because of their gender, suggests an RTPI study. The report reveals that many female planners face sexist or inappropriate comments at work, feel male colleagues do not take them seriously or regard their workplace as reﬂecting “masculine norms and behaviour”. Launched by the RTPI on International Women’s Day 2020, the report also indicates that women are particularly at risk of discrimination when returning from maternity leave. Professor Aude Bicquelet-Lock, the RTPI’s Deputy Head of Policy and Research and the report’s co-author, said: “Developing the conversation around

the need for diversity in the planning profession is not a ‘parochial’ exercise. Without genuine commitment to address issues around gender inequality there is a real risk that the profession will miss out on the beneﬁts of nurturing and retaining real talents as well as the opportunity to create diverse and inclusive communities.” The report sets out 15 key recommendations to improve gender equality in planning, including the establishment of equal pay between men and women, and the implementation of family and carer-friendly policies for men and women. n Download the report at www.rtpi.org.uk/ womenandplanning

IMAGE OF THE MONTH Before the lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, RTPI vice-president Wei Yang FRTPI was able to meet with members and other planning luminaries at the launch of the ﬁnal report of the UK2070 Commission at MediaCity, Salford. Pictured (l-r) are: Armando Carbonell, Ian Wray, Trudi Elliott, Andrew Jones, Jane Healey Brown, Wei Yang, Sandy Taylor, Paul Watson, John Acres, Phil Williams, Graeme Purves, Vincent Goodstadt and Mark Sitch.

NORTH WEST REGION TO WORK WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITIES RTPI’s North West region has signed partnership agreements with the planning schools of the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester, it has been announced. The agreements build upon well-established formal links between the region and the two schools, and are commitments to pursue partnership working across a range of activities. Among the areas covered by the agreements are student projects and dissertations, student membership, and part-time degree programmes designed for those already employed in planning posts. The Head of School and Regional Chair will also meet at least once a year to discuss and foster partnership working. Regional Chair Kim Cooper said: “These agreements bring a broad range of topics into a comprehensive, wide-ranging and ongoing commitment to partnership working. In these diﬃcult times, we think this is good news and an approach that could be replicated around the UK.” NEW RTPI WEBSITE

The RTPI has launched its newly designed website with the aim of creating a more userfriendly browsing experience. Members and the wider planning profession can now enjoy a cleaner, easier-to-navigate, fully responsive design, easily viewable on both desktop and handheld devices. There is also an enhanced login area where members can pay for membership, edit contact details and log CPD hours all in one place. President Sue Manns said: “Staying connected and keeping informed have never been more important than they are today. The new website represents a signiﬁcant step forward for the RTPI, its members and many others who use it as the primary source of information, research and advice on planning and the profession.” The website is one of the ﬁrst projects in the RTPI’s Corporate Strategy 2020-2030. n Visit the website at rtpi.org.uk; to send feedback, email: webmaster@rtpi.org.uk

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G PLANNIN AHEAD MEMBER NEWS

Key dates for 2020 A message from the Chief Executive “We are all working in extraordinary times, but as planners we pride ourselves as a profession on being adaptable and positive in a crisis. In March, the RTPI moved to a virtual operation overnight in response to the government’s call for greater social distancing. We also decided to suspend all RTPI events until 31 August. This is a rapidly changing situation, so please do keep up to date with the latest news by following us on Twitter @RTPIPlanners “Following the success of the virtual Awards for Planning Excellence 2020, we’re now trialling new technology to transform our events programme. As we move quickly to change the way we run your institute, I’m confident that we’ll find new ways of working that will deliver a positive legacy into the future.” Victoria Hills MRTPI FICE n For more details of forthcoming online events, visit bit.ly/planner0520-Events CELEBRATING THE POWER OF PLANNING AT A LOCAL LEVEL The RTPI’s annual Regional Awards for Planning Excellence celebrate projects and people at a local level, highlighting how planning and planners around the country are working to create a safe, healthy and sustainable future. They are open to all planners, architects, surveyors and developers, members and non-members of the RTPI, and to all projects regardless of their size or level of completion – be it a plan, strategy or finished project. Entries for the 2020 Regional Awards are open from 4 May to 26 June. n More information at rtpi.org.uk/regionalawards RESEARCH AWARDS 2020 – ENTRY FOR SUBMISSIONS OPEN NOW The RTPI’s annual Awards for Research Excellence recognise and promote high-quality, impactful spatial planning research carried out by Chartered members and accredited planning schools from around the world. There are four categories at this year’s awards n Sir Peter Hall Award for Research Excellence recognises high-quality research that is likely to make an immediate impact beyond academia n Student Award is aimed at students who are working towards or have recently completed a non-research university degree n Early Career Researcher Award is aimed at researchers in the beginning phase of their academic careers, stressing methodological rigour and innovative thinking n Planning Practitioner Award is open to nonacademic planning practitioners and organisations conducting valuable research with the potential to inform planning policy and/or practice. Entries can be submitted for this year’s awards until Monday 18 May at 5pm. n For more information, email research@rtpi.org.uk or visit bit.ly/planner0520-ResearchExcellence

NEW FELLOWS Many congratulations to two RTPI members who were recently elected as Chartered Fellows of the Institute – Adrian Penfold OBE FRTPI (top), an Advisor to British Land, and Stephen Harness FRTPI of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation. Stephen, who is the ﬁrst Chartered town planner working for the Ministry of Defence to be elected as a Fellow, spoke of his delight at the news: “I feel it will inspire me to continue to capacity build for future generations of planners and encourage more to get involved with the Institute. I’d also encourage more people to apply as I found it interesting to take a step back from the day-today pressures and think about what I’ve achieved and hope to do in the future to deliver best practice and innovation in the profession.”

COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PLANNERS Congratulations also to two RTPI members who have been appointed to positions at the Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP). Immediate Past President Ian Tant MRTPI has been appointed as the CAP’s Vice-President. RTPI Nominations Sub-Committee Chair Lucy SeymourBowdery said: “We look forward to working with Ian over the next two years to promote good planning in the Commonwealth at a critical time to address climate change and rapid urbanisation globally.” Meanwhile, Olaﬁyin Taiwo MRTPI, a member of the RTPI’s International Committee, has been appointed leader of the CAP’s Young Planners Network, taking over from Viral Desai.

DISSERTATION PRIZE RTPI student member Euan Crispin, a graduate of the RTPI-accredited MSc Cities and Global Development course at the University of Sheﬃeld, has won the Development Studies Association (DSA) annual dissertation prize for a study of Eko Atlantic City in Nigeria, it has been announced. In addition to the recognition of his research, Euan wins £500 and has also been invited to present his work at the DSA annual conference.

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rtpi.org.uk

Have you seen our new website?

We are excited to announce the launch of RTPI’s newly designed website. We hope you enjoy our new clean design that is easy to navigate, looks great on any device, and is more user-friendly. • Find the very latest news on our home page • Easy to navigate • Responsive design for a seamless customer experience on all devices • Fresh layout with up-to-date content • A ‘New from the Institute’ tab providing easy filterable access to the latest news, blogs, policy and research • Handy ‘content you might be interested in’ feature suggesting other relevant pages related to what you are looking at • Clear regions and nations pages via the ‘Find your RTPI’ tab

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Log in to our improved members’ area to: • Edit contact details • Log CPD hours • Keep track of which events you’ve booked • View member only content • Log volunteer activity (for Planning Aid England volunteers) • Access an exclusive package of consumer discounts through RTPI Plus

Our new event booking system includes: • Clear maps for all event locations • Ability to enter special and dietary requirements • Easy-to-use filtering to find events relevant to you • Quick and simple credit card payment system

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Reach out to our audience of membership professionals Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been a more important time to reassure the planning community that their skills are in need.

The Plannerr job board board offers offfers you an opportunity it to t attract tt t the th attention tt ti of a guaranteed, dedicated audience of membership professionals, and reassure them that you are still looking to recruit. Whether you have vacancies now, or will be looking to recruit at a later time, remind our readers what sets your organisation apart, and let them know your plans. You might also consider advertising in The Planner magazine, and ensure you are seen by the professionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top-calibre candidates and kept at the forefront of their minds. Show them that you are here, your brand is strong, and your organisation needs them.

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ACTIVITIES

WHAT WE'RE READING... The Language of Cities ASIN: B01FVDGR0C

How do we deﬁne the city as it evolves in the 21st century? Drawing examples from across the globe, director of the Design Museum Deyan Sudjic decodes the underlying forces that shape our cities, such as resources and land, to the ideas that shape conscious elements of design – whether of buildings or of space.

Rebuilding Manchester ISBN-13: 9781527240025

Originally published in June 2010, this book chronicles the transformation of Manchester’s city centre, with a particular focus on the rebuilding following the terrorist attack in June 1996. It presents the people, the partnerships and the processes that have made this happen – and how Manchester was successfully repositioned and rebranded following years of economic decline.

Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design ISBN: 0141047542

The story of “how the solutions to this century’s problems – from climate change to overpopulation – lie in unlocking the secrets to great city living”. The book takes as its premises that this is ‘the century of the city’. But what makes a good one? Says author Charles Montgomery: “If we're going to save the world, we must ﬁrst be happier, and that means creating happier cities.”

Scenario Planning for Cities and Regions: Managing and Envisioning Uncertain Futures ISBN: 978-1-55844400-3

Cities and regions are increasingly using scenario planning to prepare for an uncertain future. Robert Goodspeed explores this growing and evolving practice and how urban planners and the communities they serve can make better decisions through scenario planning for the large-scale uncertainty that the Covid-19 crisis creates, or to guide recovery later on.

WHAT WE'RE WATCHING... Remote Public Inquiry A mock remote planning appeal exercise was conducted recently to explore the practicalities of working remotely during the Covid-19 crisis. Barristers Jonathan Easton, Constanze Bell and Philip Robson from the Kings Chambers planning team ran a short mock inquiry over Microsoft Teams, joined by Matt Jones, senior director at Turley as witness for the local planning authority and Nigel Cussen, senior planning director at Pegasus Group, as witness for the appellant. The exercise assessed the practicality of cross-examination. Lessons learned? Nigel Cussen: “We consider the move to remote appeals, including examination of witnesses, is a practical and viable option in order to maintain casework during the coronavirus restrictions and until inperson appeals are able to resume.” bit.ly/planner0520-Mock

Gender mainstreaming The RTPI’s George Pepler International Award is a bursary granted biennially to a person in their ﬁrst 10 years of postqualiﬁcation experience wishing to undertake a short period of study on a particular aspect of spatial planning. Natalya Palit MRTPI, winner of the 2018 award, used hers to investigate the impact of ‘gender mainstreaming’ in Vienna. We ran a feature in March, and you can read Natalya’s full report here. bit.ly/planner0520-PeplerReport If you would like to be considered for the 2020 award, you can register your interest here: bit.ly/planner0520-PeplerAward

I L L U S T R AT I O N | O L I V I A W H I T W O R T H

It’s been nothing if not an unusual few weeks for us all, with one outcome of the current crisis being the decimation of a particularly packed spring events programme. Unfortunately, this includes the postponement of Planner Live and all other RTPI events scheduled prior to 31 August. Accordingly, to compensate we’ve thrown a wider net over online activity this month.

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LANDSCAPE

WHERE WE'RE GOING...VIRTUALLY Wildlife Trusts People find moments of connection with nature uplifting and comforting. The Wildlife Trusts have created an online nature activities resource and the group is encouraging everyone to tune into wildlife at home this spring to help find solace in nature during these tough times. You’ll find a range of nature activities and wildlife web cams at:

Each month the RTPI runs a range of free or low-cost events up and down the UK. This is where you’d usually ﬁnd our pick of those coming up in the next few weeks. With all RTPI public events cancelled until 31st August, here’s a selection of institute events and resources happening online. (For the latest RTPI events news visit bit.ly/planner0520-Calendar) RTPI Covid-19 HUB The RTPI has set up this page as a summary of some of the innovation practice the institute has come across. To be regularly updated throughout the crisis, it includes statements where authorities are changing regulation and practice to meet new restrictions.

bit.ly/planner0520-Nature

RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence 2020

Westminster Forum Projects This organisation runs online conferences bringing together a variety of stakeholder to discuss planning themes. Fees apply for most delegates, concessionary and complimentary places are available subject to terms and conditions. Here are some upcoming dates and themes: Legal services reform in Scotland – regulation, international competitiveness and seizing opportunities for innovation Wednesday, 2 September

On 30 April the winners of this year's RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence were to be hosted as a virtual ceremony using the institute's own YouTube channel and the Premiere facility by which you can ether watch the event live or later on demand. If you get this magazine ahead of then, you can register to watch the event which takes place on 30 April at 1pm. All category winners and the prestigious Silver Jubilee Cup winner, awarded annually to the entry judged to be the most outstanding from among the category winners. It’s worth subscribing to the RTPI channel ahead of time to be prepared. bit.ly/planner0520-RTPIChannel bit.ly/planne

Next steps for aﬀordable housing ng in England – policy, planning, delivery very and design Thursday, 14 May 2020

Developing major infrastructure e projects across the UK – planning, ng, investment, and implementing the National Infrastructure Strategy** Tuesday, 23 June 2020 More details: bit.ly/planner0520Westminster

bit.ly/planner0520-coronavirus

RTPI experts discuss how planning has responded po ded to the Covid-19 crisis A seven-minute assessment with head of policy Richard Blyth, director of Scotland and Ireland Craig McLaren, and director of Wales and Northern Ireland Roisin Willmott, who join RTPI chief executive Victoria Hills to discuss how planning is supporting the governments of the UK to respond to the coronavirus. Posted 6 April. bit.ly/planner0520-Covid19Response

WHAT HAT W WE’RE PLANNING... Naturally, N Naturall tu t alll we’ll be reporting on the coronavirus and how it is aﬀecting the profession. But we crisis risis an are re a also so investigating what does and doesn’t make Paragraph 79 application work; the work of a Paragr P ragr Ga g Glasgow gow city urbanist Brian Evans; and the overall w nn ng entry in the RTPI Awards for Planning winning Excellence Excellen xce l n 2020. You can, as ever, suggest where w focus we focu ocu by emailing editorial@theplanner.co.uk

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