英国论文网Planning
The housing crisis has dominated the planningdebate in recent years and on the whole,commercial developers have been largely
silent. But dramatic changes to the planning systemthat have been made since the government cameto power have important implications for theindustrial sector. When the appetite for industrialunits returns, many developers will find the planninggoalposts have moved a considerable distance.
Local authorities will become more powerfulwhen it comes to making development decisionsand opinions differ on whether a proposedincentives system to encourage development willresult in a smoother planning process. Work on anational planning framework and revisions to localplans will also soon gather pace, and this will provideopportunities, but also challenges, for stakeholdersin the industrial sector.
Gazeley UK managing director Nigel Godfreysums up the situation: “Planning is the fundamentalobstacle that has to be overcome for land to have
any development potential. It’s the first thing welook at when considering a site. There is a surprisingamount of naivety surrounding this.”
The key question for all developers now is whethera planning system can be devised that successfullyconsiders the negative impacts of developmentlocally against the positives at a regional and
national level.
So far, the answer to this question is far fromcertain. Regional plans used to make the case forstrategically important development, including
employment uses. These have already beenabolished, and a replacement framework is yetto be announced.
Prologis UK managing director Andy Griffithssays: “The government is intent on changingthe planning system, which creates uncertaintyand a lack of clarity for us. We spent a lot of time
engaging with the planning process at a regionallevel. If that disappears, it is potentially problematic.”
Griffiths remains hopeful that the work done tocreate regional plans will not be wasted, and that
consideration of issues above the local level willremain in place.
“The evidence base that backed up the regionalplans is still valid,” he says. “It’s just that we don’tknow how it’s going to be applied. The natureof our product means it will have some kindof regional impact, so should be consideredin a regional context.”
Positive signs
The need to consider some applications in aregional context informs a typical fear among
many developers — that returning power to alocal level risks losing sight of the wider positive
benefits of development.Some developers are positive about the proposedchanges. Evander Properties managing director
Jeremy Greenland argues that local authorities havebeen hamstrung by regional planning policies andshould benefit from increased freedoms. “It might
make life easier if local authorities are autonomousand don’t have to defer to anyone,” he says. |
