Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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New single planning policy for economic growth
A new planning policy setting out a comprehensive approach for planning for sustainable economic growth in all parts of the country has been published for consultation by Housing and Planning Minister Margaret Beckett today.
The proposed Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Prosperous Economies streamlines existing guidance to create a coherent and modern planning framework which will enable communities to meet the economic challenges they are facing now and in the long-term. It encourages positive and proactive planning for sustainable economic growth in urban and rural areas and promotes investment, competition and innovation while safeguarding city, town and village centres.
The integrated approach of the new Planning Policy Statement will provide greater certainty to businesses looking to submit planning applications and assist local authorities take speedier decisions on planning applications.
Margaret Beckett said:
"The planning system needs to do everything it can to support the economic aspirations of our communities in cities, towns and rural villages.
"We need a flexible and responsive system with local authorities and business working together to understand the economic challenges they face and to exploit the opportunities they identify.
"That's why for the first time we have brought together all of our key planning policies relating to the economy in one place.
"This gives us a coherent and modern set of policies which provide the flexibility needed to tackle the current economic uncertainty and exploit the opportunities available through global competition for jobs and investment, rapid advances in technology and in working patterns."
The new PPS takes forward the Government's commitment in the Planning White Paper 2007 to streamline planning guidance. It replaces the existing PPS4, Planning for Sustainable Economic Development, PPG5, Simplified Planning Zones, PPS6, Planning for Town Centres, and the economic development elements of PPS7, Sustainable Development in Rural Areas.
Key policies in the new Planning for Prosperous Economies PPS include:
- From draft PPS4, considering planning applications for economic growth favourably unless there is good reason to believe the costs outweigh the benefits. Developing plans that take account of long term economic benefits, including for the wider regional and national economy such as job creation, and promoting opportunities to regenerate deprived areas and support business diversification in rural areas.
- From PPG5, encouraging local authorities to make full use of the planning tools available to them to simplify and speed up the planning process, such as creating simplified planning zones.
- From PPS6, promoting the vitality of town centres, consumer choice and retail diversity. Removing the "needs" test, which requires developers to show there is need for their proposal. Retaining the sequential test, which requires developers to seek the most central sites first, and a tougher 'impact test' which assesses proposals against economic, social and environmental criteria so that councils can assess its impact on the town centre in reaching their decision.
- From PPS7, provide for sustainable economic growth in keeping with the need to protect the countryside. This responds to a key recommendation from Matthew Taylor MP's review of rural housing and economy.
The consultation on the draft PPS will close on 28 July 2009.
Notes to Editors
- The proposed new Planning Policy Statement is available at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/consultationeconomicpps
- The policies set out in this PPS will be taken into account by regional planning bodies in the preparation of revisions to Regional Spatial Strategies, by the Mayor of London in relation to the spatial development strategy for London, and by local planning authorities in the preparation of local development documents. These local plans include clear and proactive policies aimed at supporting the start-up and growth of business, attracting inward investment and increasing employment. These plans give developers the certainty they require for the future use of their own and surrounding land to be able to commit investment.
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