25 October 2011
MP for the Cotswolds, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, last Thursday (20 October) spoke on the Government’s reforms to England’s planning system.
In a debate in the House of Commons on the Government’s draft National Planning Policy Framework Mr Clifton-Brown aired a number of concerns he had over the proposed new system. England’s national planning policy is now over 1,000 pages long and the Government is aiming to condense all planning guidance into a succinct 52-page policy document, called the National Planning Policy Framework.
Mr Clifton-Brown is generally supportive of the Government’s aim to simplify the system and stated during the debate:
“I welcome the actions of my right hon. Friend the Minister in getting rid of regional spatial strategies, which the previous Government introduced. I have opposed them very strongly, simply because they have not worked.”
“They have not produced the number of local plans required, and they have alienated many local people from the planning system, so my right hon. Friend has done the right thing in bringing forward this new national planning framework. I wish him every possible success.”
However, Mr Clifton-Brown went on to address a number of concerns he had with the draft National Planning Policy Framework, with particular reference to the Cotswolds. These related to the cost of the planning process, which can be a considerable burden on small rural Local Authorities like Cotswolds District Council; a new requirement for Local Authorities to provide an additional 20% of land to the existing five-year land bank, and change the system which is currently working well in the Cotswolds, the need to promote vitality and viability of town centres, a particular concern for small rural towns, and the need to protect Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty as well as special vernacular design areas such as the Cotswolds.
The Government recently undertook a consultation on their draft Framework, to which Mr Clifton-Brown submitted a detailed response, and will be considering the responses it received before publishing a final Framework at the beginning of next year.
Commenting after the debate Mr Clifton-Brown said: “I very much welcomed the opportunity to contribute to this important and timely debate. I have been contacted by many constituents and I realise many people have an interest in this matter.”
“I believe the Government’s attempts to simplify the planning system are correct. They will make the planning system more accessible and give local communities a greater say in development in their areas. However, there were a number of areas where I had concerns and hope that the Government takes steps to address these.”
“The Cotswolds is a special and wonderful place – let’s keep it that way.”
In a debate in the House of Commons on the Government’s draft National Planning Policy Framework Mr Clifton-Brown aired a number of concerns he had over the proposed new system. England’s national planning policy is now over 1,000 pages long and the Government is aiming to condense all planning guidance into a succinct 52-page policy document, called the National Planning Policy Framework.
Mr Clifton-Brown is generally supportive of the Government’s aim to simplify the system and stated during the debate:
“I welcome the actions of my right hon. Friend the Minister in getting rid of regional spatial strategies, which the previous Government introduced. I have opposed them very strongly, simply because they have not worked.”
“They have not produced the number of local plans required, and they have alienated many local people from the planning system, so my right hon. Friend has done the right thing in bringing forward this new national planning framework. I wish him every possible success.”
However, Mr Clifton-Brown went on to address a number of concerns he had with the draft National Planning Policy Framework, with particular reference to the Cotswolds. These related to the cost of the planning process, which can be a considerable burden on small rural Local Authorities like Cotswolds District Council; a new requirement for Local Authorities to provide an additional 20% of land to the existing five-year land bank, and change the system which is currently working well in the Cotswolds, the need to promote vitality and viability of town centres, a particular concern for small rural towns, and the need to protect Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty as well as special vernacular design areas such as the Cotswolds.
The Government recently undertook a consultation on their draft Framework, to which Mr Clifton-Brown submitted a detailed response, and will be considering the responses it received before publishing a final Framework at the beginning of next year.
Commenting after the debate Mr Clifton-Brown said: “I very much welcomed the opportunity to contribute to this important and timely debate. I have been contacted by many constituents and I realise many people have an interest in this matter.”
“I believe the Government’s attempts to simplify the planning system are correct. They will make the planning system more accessible and give local communities a greater say in development in their areas. However, there were a number of areas where I had concerns and hope that the Government takes steps to address these.”
“The Cotswolds is a special and wonderful place – let’s keep it that way.”
