Review of the Year

January

At the beginning of the year the Government publishes the legislation needed to make sure it could carry out preparations for its proposed Planning Gain Supplement. Over in Northern Ireland the Planning Services face the Province’s largest ever planning application - for the Titanic quarter of central Belfast. A clutch of planning figures are recognised in the Queens’s New Year Honour’s List, including former Government planning adviser and Town and Country Planning Association stalwart David Lock. Meanwhile, a group of green pressure groups set up a website challenging Kate Barker’s proposals for reforming the planning system. A development of luxury flats built near Wigan must be demolished because they are one and half metres higher than approved. Ryedale District Council takes legal advice when its core strategy is adjudged unsound.

February

The then Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly voices concern that too many Development Plan Framework documents aren’t up to scratch, new tall buildings advice is published and – against the odds – Manchester scoops the jackpot in terms of being the preferred location for the UK’s first Las Vegas style casino. The Olympic Development Authority submits what is claimed to be the UK’s largest ever planning application – for the development associated with the 2012 Olympics. Meanwhile, the then Department of Trade and Industry promises a new round of consultation over a new nuclear power station programme after a successful legal challenge by Greenpeace. There are plans to open up access to the whole of the British coastline and the Welsh Assembly Government intervenes over mineral planning in the Brecon Beacons national Park. A legal challenge surfaces which threatens Argent’s ambitious King’s Cross redevelopment.

March

Proposals for a new planning watchdog – to be called Ofplan - modelled on the regulators established for water and energy are suggested by Professor David Lock and Paul Haskett, once a special adviser to former deputy prime minister John Prescott. A crackdown is promised on illegal roadside advertising and the then culture secretary Tessa Jowell firms up proposals for a unified heritage protection regime. In London a ground-breaking public inquiry starts into plans for 37-storey development –known as the Walkie-Talkie. Up in Yorkshire Hambleton District Council insists that a £400,000 mansion must be pulled down because it was built without planning permission.

April

The UK's largest strawberry producer loses a series of planning appeals over a caravan-based settlement near Leominster, Herefordshire, which S&A Davies used to house up to 2,000 pickers each season. Then Communities secretary Ruth Kelly dismissed no fewer than four call-in appeals and made it clear that growers could not rely on short-term permitted development rights. Kelly went against an inspector and allowed ambitious proposals for the former Vaux Brewery site in Sunderland, a key development location. Changes to building control regime mooted and the Health and safety regulator consults on tighter regime for development around large scale petrol depots like the one which caught fire at Buncefield in Hertfordshire.

May

CABE, the Government’s design adviser, takes a pot shot at plans for an office tower in Reading and plans for Lydd airport in Kent. Portsmouth Football Club floats ambitious plans for a new stadium and green groups get hot under the collar over Weymouth relief road plan. Tesco launches legal challenge over its plans to use the Vaux Brewery site in Sunderland for a superstore. Ministers ponder whether banning homes near power lines can be justified. Gordon Brown, soon to be confirmed as PM, promises a programme of eco-towns to spearhead green housing development. Gypsies lose their battle to keep hold of a site earmarked for the Olympics. The CBI calls for a further round of planning reforms. Ruth Kelly publishes Planning White Paper which includes proposals for an independent Infrastructure Planning Commission. King’s Cross development survives legal challenge. Best selling author Bill Bryson is named as the next president of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

June

The Planning Inspectorate reports it has made significant progress in reducing the backlog of appeals and inquiry decisions during 2006/07. During those 12 months the Inspectorate issued 3,210 hearings decisions, up 60 per cent on the previous year when 2,000 decisions were made. Bids invited for the UK’s first zero-carbon community. Fresh consultation announced over plans for England’s biggest new reservoir. Government considers court ruling over disclosure of official’s advice to Prescott over Vauxhall Tower proposal. Hazel Blears replaces Kelly as Secretary of State at Communities and local Government. Planning Inspectorate offers advice on LDF work and Office of fair Trading launches house planning investigation. Coventry Airport expansion rejected.

July

Government confirms a major drive to increase the provision of new housing, some of which will be built in 'eco towns' and in local authority chosen 'growth points'. The latter initiative will be extended and for the first time will include proposals from northern authorities. Ministers launch a raft of proposals and decisions - some in a Housing Green Paper – which will mean changes in the way housing provision is allocated and decided both at a local and regional level. New measures to discourage private sector builders from 'land banking' are mooted. First National Park core strategy approved; Blears approves Walkie Talkie tower in the capital; and consultation begins into alternatives to the PGS. A family originally stopped from flying a Jolly Roger pirate flag at their house for their son's birthday party are given planning permission by Stafford Borough Council to go ahead.

August

House building in South East England should be ten per cent greater than local authorities in the region had proposed, planning inspectors conclude. But the annual home building figure of 32,000 recommended by the panel report into the South East Plan is lower than required to help meet ambitious Government national housing targets and prompts an angry reaction from developers. The panel report into the regional spatial strategy for England's most prosperous area, just published, has recommended an increase in the overall levels of housing from 28,900 to 32,000 per annum over the plan period. Government clarifies policy advice on poly tunnels and issues final version of guidance on tall buildings. The future of the Planning Portal is outlined. Ministers deny moves to ditch the Merton Rule and publish their thoughts on changes to the appeals transfer process as well validating planning permissions.

September

A High Court Judge rules that the Northern Ireland administration acted unlawfully in introducing a new rural planning policy in 2006 which effectively banned consents for single dwellings in the countryside. Controversially the moratorium on development was brought into effect on the day the then Department for Regional Development published the policy - enshrined in PPS 14 (Sustainable Development in the Countryside) - in draft. PM Gordon Brown brings in the Liberal Democrats’ Matthew Taylor MP to look at rural policy and doubles the eco-town target to ten. Green groups threaten legal challenge over Merton Rule. Hazel Blears approves Center Parcs project in Green Belt. Severn Barrage feasibility study proposed and Waveney District Council awarded zero rating by the Audit Commission for its planning service.

October

The Government decides to replace its original proposals for a new land tax involving a Planning Gain Supplement (PGS) in favour of a planning charge. This will build on the current s106 approach and the tariff formula pioneered in Milton Keynes, planning minister Yvette Cooper tells Parliament. A decision by former SoS on a landmark Thames Gateway housing scheme is quashed by the High Court. Natural England calls for “greener” Green Belts. Crossrail approved by PM Gordon Brown. Top architect fined £25,000 after listed buildings demolished. Huge gas storage scheme earmarked for Lancashire coast refused planning permission. Changes to EIA regulations proposed after European Court ruling. Friends of the Earth threatens legal challenge to planning reforms.

November

The Government stresses that major planning and housing reforms are central to the latest legislative programme announced in the Queen's Speech. Parliament due to consider five separate Bills (one in draft form) over the next nine months which will provide the planning system with major challenges and opportunities. Three of the bills – covering Climate Change, Planning Reform and Housing and Regeneration - are published. Ministers reveal that developers have proposed nearly 50 eco towns. Pinewood Studios proposes major expansion; Trump’s £1 billion golf complex makes the final cut; Government begins consultation on a third runway and sixth terminal for Heathrow; and major changes to east Midlands Green Belt mooted. MPs voice concern over Thames gateway management.

December

Planning Reform Bill gets second reading. Professor Stephen Crow dies. Ministers propose ambitious offshore wind plans. Planning service online self-assessment launched. Government spells out timetable for changes to appeals regime. New safety planning guidance for major petrol storage sites confirmed. Trump’s golf resort plan refused then called in by Scottish Government. Eco-region plan for Thames Gateway proposed days before Thames Gateway chief executive Judith Armitt is replaced. MPs publish private Bill on Merton Rule. Ministers publish new planning policy statement on climate change and draft advice on economic development.

Roger Milne

19 December 2007