New Planning Policy framework attacked by Parliamentary Committee

A Parliamentary Committee has said that the government's National Planning Policy Framework should be amended to remove a presumption in favour of development which  means that proposals are supposed to be approved promptly unless they compromise specific economic, social and environmental principles.

The words "significantly and demonstrably" should be deleted from the policy framework where they are used to describe the potential impact of a development, the Committee said. At the moment, there are several references in the document to the fact that infrastructure or building work should be approved "unless the adverse effects ‘significantly and demonstrably' outweigh the benefits."

Clive Betts, the Labour MP who heads the panel, said:
"The way the framework is drafted currently gives the impression that greater emphasis should be given in planning decisions to economic growth. This undermines the equally important environmental and social elements of the planning system."

Planning Minister Greg Clark said he had invited the committee to make specific suggestions on the draft framework and was grateful for "the practical and measured way they have approached the exercise". Clark, has described the presumption in favour of sustainable development as the "golden thread" running through the reforms.

Housebuilders are among those who called for the presumption in favour of development and urged the government to "stand firm". in the face of the criticism.

The Home Builders Federation released figures showing permissions for new homes were down 10% on last year, with 32,900 awarded from July to September, when 60,000 were needed to meet demand which, it claims, could create half a million jobs.

The committee welcomed the government's openness to reinstating a reference to favouring development on "brownfield" land first, currently missing from the proposed reforms, and to improving the definition of sustainable development.

The MPs also called for a sensible transition period to the new planning system, with a realistic timetable to allow councils to get "local plans" in place which will guide development in their areas.

The policy is expected to be published in its final form early in the new year.

Sutton Harbour Holdings, the AIM-listed, Plymouth-based developer which owns Plymouth Airport and the Marina from which it takes it's name, today made an open offer for shares to the market to fund it's Millbay Marina project.It expects to receive £5.7 million net which will also pay down some debt.

The Millbay Marina project is a proposed development in the historic Brunel Dock, a central location in Plymouth with direct views across Plymouth Sound, which will provide berthing for up to 179 berths together with 2,000 sq ft of shoreside facilities. The scheme received the local authority's resolution to grant planning permission on 15 December 2011, and work is expected to commence in the new year.

The regeneration scheme will transform a derelict 20 acre harbourside area which was used the the race village in September of the Americas Cup yacht race. The Millbay Docks were designed by Brunel around 1849.

Michael Knight, Chairman said:

"The Millbay Marina Project is a unique opportunity to provide high quality facilities with direct access to some of the best cruising waters of the UK. The project is in line with our stated strategy to focus on marine activities and the regeneration of waterfront areas whilst building the Group's core income base."