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Government aims to devolve planning powers
Tue 25 May 2010
Councils and local communities are to be given greater powers relating to planning decisions under new government plans.
The Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition unveiled its legislative programme for the next parliament this week.
Among the proposals was a plan to introduce a bill to devolve powers over planning decisions away from central government.
According to the coalition, this will empower local people and help to create a more efficient and local planning system.
The government's proposals feature the abolition of the Infrastructure Planning Commission, which would be replaced with a more democratically accountable alternative.
This, it said, would be more efficient and allow major infrastructure projects to be fast-tracked.
Meanwhile, the government has also confirmed it will stop any uncompleted plans to create unitary councils in Britain.
This means that the unitary proposals in Suffolk that are still outstanding will not be implemented, while the structural change orders that established Norwich and Exeter as unitary councils last month will be revoked.
Paul Irving, head of parliamentary and planning law at Winckworth Sherwood, commented: "It is no surprise that the IPC's demise has been confirmed.
"It will be interesting to discover whether the new government will take the opportunity to refine some of the planning regime's consultation requirements for major infrastructure projects.
"In opposition, junior planning minister Bob Neill indicated a willingness to examine the case for refinement.
"The Bill will be eagerly awaited."
