ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL
DEVELOPMENT CONTROL COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 15 MARCH 2005
Officer: Chris Hougham, Development Control Manager Tel: (01983) 823567
PLANNING SYSTEM:
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
PLANNING POLICY
STATEMENT 1: DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
To draw Members attention to the recent publication to two
important documents prepared by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. (ODPM)
Background
Members may be familiar with PPG1: General Policy and
Principles, published in February 1997, which underlines the significance of
sustainable development as the basis for planning policy and further develops
the former presumption in favour of development to the effect that the planning
system should operate on the basis that, applications for development should be
allowed, having regard to the development plan and all material considerations,
unless the proposed development would cause demonstrable harm to interests of
acknowledged importance.
The document focussed on sustainable development, mixed uses
and design. The key policy objectives were wide ranging and included land use
and transport, planning for housing, the importance of town centres, rural areas
and conserving the historic environment.
In terms of operational principals, matters relating to
planning obligations/conditions and the plan-led system were covered in
considerable detail. The issue of design also figured very prominently in the
guidance.
ODPM has been reviewing this guidance for a considerable
period of time and it was anticipated that a new PPS1 would be issued early
this year.
Financial Implications
None.
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Conclusions
Essentially it would appear there are now two separate
documents. One is a statement entitled the Planning System: General Principles
and the other is the new PPS1 entitled Delivering Sustainable Developments.
The Planning System: General Principle
This document offers a relatively straightforward
explanation of the planning system in this country at this moment in time
focussing on the fact that it is a plan-led system which operates at three
specific levels; national, regional and local.
Of relevance to this Committee, the statement makes the
following comment in terms of the determination of planning applications:
Local Planning Authorities must determine planning applications in
accordance with the statutory Development Plan, unless material considerations
indicate otherwise. If the Development Plan contains material policies or
proposals and there are no other material considerations, the application
should be determined in accordance with the Development Plan but where there
are other material considerations, the Development Plan should be the starting
point, and other material considerations should be taken into account in
decisions.
The document also gives advice and direction of the following
Development Control related issues:
·
Other
material considerations
·
Prematurity
·
Planning
conditions and obligations
·
Planning
appeals
·
Propriety
·
Other
legislation (including Human Rights)
The statement also gives advice on the role of the Secretary
of State (the ODPM) on the issue “call-in” of planning applications for his
determination. It is made clear that these intervention powers will be used
selectively and will nto interfere with the jurisdiction of local planning
authorities unless it is necessary to do so. As a guide, statement includes
criteria set out by the former Ministers for Planning where it may be necessary
to “call-in” an application.
·
May
conflict with National Policies on important matters;
·
Could
have significant effects beyond there immediate locality;
·
Give
rise to substantial regional or national controversy;
·
Raise
significant architectural urban design issues;
·
Mau
involve the interests of national security or foreign governments.
Copies of this document are available (email: [email protected] )
Planning Policy Statement 1; Delivering Sustainable
Development
This is the Government’s National Policy in terms of
overarching planning policies on the delivery of sustainable development
through the planning system.
The policy comprises:
·
The
Government’s objectives for the planning system
·
National
Planning Policies comprising key principles and planning and delivering sustainable
development.
The overall objectives includes a
number of broad statements, some of which would be familiar to Members
Good planning is a positive and proactive process, operating in the
public interest through a system of planned preparation and control over the
development and use of land.
…these aims should be pursued in an integrated way through a
sustainable, innovative and productive economy that delivers high levels of
employment, an adjust society that promotes social inclusion, sustainable
communities and personal well being, in ways that protect and enhance the
physical environment and optimise resource and energy use.
….., the country needs a transparent, flexible, predictable, efficient
and effective planning system that will produce the quality of development
needed to deliver sustainable development and secure sustainable communities.
This plan-led system, and the certainty and the predictability it aims
to provide, is central to planning and plays the key role in integrating sustainable
development objectives.
The policy document states that pre-application discussions
are critically important and benefit both developers and local planning
authorities ensuring a better mutual understanding of objectives and the
constraints that exist. In the course of such discussions, proposals can be
adapted to ensure that they better reflect community aspirations and that
applications are complete and address all the relevant issues. Local planning
authorities and applicants should take a positive attitude towards early
engagement in pre-application discussion, so that formal applications can be
dealt with in a more certain and speedy manner and the quality of decisions can
be better assured.
Planning for sustainable development is dealt with in the
following terms:
On the issue of delivering sustainable development, the
policy document focuses on three specific areas; two of which feature in the
Planning and Compensation Act 2004 (Spatial Plans and Community Involvement)
and the third is the continuing objective to seek and achieve good design.
Copies of this national planning document can be obtained
(email: [email protected])
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RECOMMENDATION To note the
information contained in this report. |
ANDREW ASHCROFT
Head of Planning
Services