November 30, 2011
George Osborne's Autumn Statement, the Plan for Growth Implementation Update and the new National Infrastructure Plan 2011 confirm further planning reform to help deliver the Government hopes to build a stronger economy.
They announce consultations to look out for in 2012, covering the streamlining of non-planning consents, appeals and changes of use, as well as the proposed 12 month 'planning guarantee'.
The downbeat economic outlook means planning reform stays in the eye of the storm. There is every indication that the Government will not back away from the central tenets of the draft NPPF. Of significance for planning too will be December's outcome of the Local Government Resource Review; its likely shift towards local retention of growth in tax revenue could provide a real financial incentive that may drive changes in planning behaviours.
NLP Contact: Matthew Spry on