Proposals for
simplifying the planning and consents environment, encouraging
development and growth and cutting the amount of red tape faced by
business and government, has been published today by the Penfold Review.
The Review recommends measures that could free up resources, save
time and money, and deliver real benefits not only to developers
and investors, but also to consenting bodies in England. Local
communities in towns and villages could also benefit from greater
transparency and clarity about how decisions are made.
The Penfold Review was set up to find out what problems business,
and especially small businesses, encounter that can make or break
investment in development. The investigation into “non-planning
consents”, such as environment permits, highways orders, and
heritage consents that are needed alongside or after planning
permission, found a complex and fragmented landscape that poses
real problems for some businesses to navigate effectively.
The Review recommends:
• Simplifying the non-planning consents landscape by removing
some individual consents and rationalising other groups of related consents;
• Giving developers easy access to clear, accurate and up-to-date information;
• Delivering greater certainty for developers and removing
duplication by improving the way planning and non-planning
consents operate together;
• Improve the co-ordination and governance around decisions
involving multiple decision makers;
• Strengthening the service culture of decision-making bodies by,
for example, setting timetables for the determination of
non-planning consents; and
• Creating a clear system for oversight of the planning and
non-planning landscape.
Mark Prisk, Minister for Business, said:
“Businesses involved in construction and development should not
have to deal with a regime made more complicated through needless
red tape and procedure”.
“We need innovative solutions that simplify how government can
deliver real benefits for business, saving time and money and
encouraging growth.”
“Across government we need to carefully consider this report and
I thank Adrian Penfold for his valuable contribution to our work
on cutting down the burden on business.”
Adrian Penfold said;
“My Review presents a package of measures that would deliver real
benefits to developers by removing unnecessary burdens and
speeding up processes."
"The proposed changes should also give people more
influence over what happens in their local communities, thanks to
more efficient, transparent and accountable processes.”
"Decision-making bodies also stand to benefit by making
changes that enable them to free up resource and redirect it
towards their highest priorities."
“Establishing non-planning consents regimes that are more
responsive to the needs of all users and that effectively interact
with the planning process is very important in helping to drive
sustainable economic growth"
The Government will consider the recommendations from the Penfold
Review in detail and will publish a formal response in the autumn.
Commenting on the report, Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark said:
"It's common sense that we don't tie
up businesses with red tape and hinder the country's
return to economic growth through excessive regulation.
"This report makes it clear that non planning consents
are adding to an already complex planning process and creating
further delays to vital development.
"I am already overhauling Whitehall’s prescriptive top
down planning system and we are committed to using this report’s
practical recommendations to ensure the Government is deregulating
and simplifying the whole development process."
Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation added:
“Improvements to the planning system don’t have to be
revolutionary. Carefully thought through amendments to some of the
myriad different and detailed regulations and processes that
affect planning can be just as effective which is why I think the
sensible, pragmatic proposals from the Penfold Review will deliver
real benefits to the property development and investment community.”
“British Property Federation members want non-planning consent
regimes that help, not hinder, the economy and I believe that this
Review will help deliver this.”
“I welcome this report and urge the Government to implement its recommendations.”
Andrew Whitaker, Planning Director at the Home Builders
Federation said:
“Members of the Home Builders Federation deliver around 80% of
the new homes built each year in England and Wales. It is
essential to our members that non-planning consent regimes
(together with an efficient planning system) allow the timely
delivery of the right homes, of the right types, in the right places.”
“We fully support the recommendations put forward by the Penfold
Review and believe that their implementation would reduce delay,
risk and cost for home builders.”
Notes for editors
1. The final review can be found at www.bis.gov.uk/penfold
2. The review team is supported by the Better Regulation
Executive, part of the Department for Business, and works closely
with the Department for Communities and Local Government.
3. Adrian Penfold is Head of Planning and Environment at British
Land. He has in the past worked in local government and for the
London Docklands Development Corporation where he had
responsibility for Canary Wharf and the surrounding sites and
related major infrastructure projects. From 1990 to 1996 he was
Head of Planning and Design at Dartford Borough Council. Major
projects include the Bluewater regional shopping centre and the
Ebbsfleet Channel Tunnel Rail Link station. At British Land he has
dealt with a number of major mixed use development projects in
central London. He has also managed large scale, mixed use,
office, residential and retail planning projects elsewhere in the
UK. He has wide experience of working with Government officials on
planning policy matters, including the Mayor of London’s planning
powers. He was a member of the Barker Review of Land Use
Planning’s Panel of Experts, and is now a member of the DCLG
Planning Sounding Board.
4. BIS' online newsroom contains the latest press
notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It
also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See
http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom
for more information.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk