Planners urged to be pro-active on economic development

Ministers have urged local authorities in England to plan positively for economic development and to promote new businesses and economic growth "unless there is good reason to believe the costs outweigh the benefit".

That's the central message of proposed new guidance, now out for consultation, which will be enshrined in a planning policy statement on economic development (PPS4).
Ministers want planning authorities to develop plans that take account of long-term benefits - including the wider regional and national economy.

Local authorities will be expected to support activities which address disparities and promote opportunities for regenerating deprived areas and which support business diversification in rural areas.

The proposed guidance has stressed that regional planning bodies and local planning authorities should:

• encourage a good range of sites identified for economic development and mixed-use development
• provide a good supply of land and buildings which offers a range of opportunities for creating new jobs in large and small businesses as well as start-up firms and which is responsive to changing needs and demands
• encourage high quality development and inclusive design for all forms of economic development
• avoid adverse impacts on the environment, but where these are unavoidable, provide mitigation
• shape travel demand by promoting sustainable travel choices wherever possible.

The draft guidance has emphasised the need to achieve a "proper balance" between economic growth and environmental and social concerns and exhorts planning authorities to encourage new uses for vacant or derelict buildings and identify previously developed land for re-use where appropriate.

Planning authorities are also being advised to be sympathetic to changing work patterns such as home working and live/work premises and to consider criteria for permitting "appropriate" tall buildings.

Planning minister Yvette Cooper said: "We need the planning system to do more to back jobs, economic growth and regeneration but also to support higher environmental standards as we do so. Economic growth and environmental standards are not alternatives: they need to go hand in hand."

Download the Consultation Paper on new Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Development (PDF, 311KB)

Roger Milne

19 December 2007