Young Planners debate the future of planning

I recently joined more than 50 young planners at an event to discuss future of planning. Coming as it did in the wake of the recent publication of the Conservative’s Planning Green Paper this was a truly timely debate. Hotly anticipated and much delayed, the Conservative ‘green paper’ set out a whole series of controversial proposals to reform the planning system.

To discuss the issues, there was a lively guest panel which included myself, Hugh Ellis (chief planner at the TCPA), Bob Neill MP (Shadow Planning Minister, pictured) and Nick Raynsford MP (the former Planning Minister). Young Planners Sara Eustace and Laura Smith set the scene for us with an introduction, including a look at the Opposition paper and some of its key themes.

When it came to my turn to speak, I argued that the green paper displays a worrying naivety about planning and how it operates. Read it alongside Cameron’s speeches and the philosophy behind it and it’s even more worrying. But it is important to maintain a dialogue with all of the main parties whether we agree or disagree with their philosophies - particularly as the election could produce the first hung parliament since the 1970s with no single political party in overall control. For many of us mid career planners or young planners that is an unknown quantity.

For me the key facets of our planning system are the principle of the plan-led system and the ethics of how the system operates. Whilst there is always room for improvement and refinement, the principle of a plan with a vision for a particular geographical area developed with strong local engagement, perhaps led by community ‘entrepreneurs’, is basically sound. By planning organically, perhaps we can bring back much needed local distinctiveness. However, planning spatially will be difficult for some. Too often it is the usual suspects that have the most influence and however we might define ‘community’ what’s certain is that it won’t be a homogenous or harmonious unit. I also argued very strongly that I was not happy with the concept of effectively incentivising planning permissions.

Nick Raynsford gave an impassioned plea not to meddle with the planning system when it was so crucial to economic recovery. He thought the Tory plans were ill thought out and essentially unworkable. His exchanges with Bob Neill were heated at times and maybe a little bit surprising to some of the younger members of the audience not used to the cut and thrust of political debate

Bob Neill MP defended the green paper vigorously. He felt its proposals were radical and long overdue. Bob saw no problem at all in offering local people incentives to encourage planning. Labour’s target led approach to house building was clearly not working. At the heart of the new Conservative policy was putting local people back in the driving seat when it came to decisions about their neighbourhoods.

Well done to the Young Planners for organizing this evening!