National Planning Forum 20 March 2007

Alice LesterPrincipal ConsultantPlanning Advisory Service

what PAS focuses on

•encouraging best practice and continuous improvement

•providing tailored services •promoting a culture of change, learning and development

•supporting authorities with large-scale housing developments (ATLAS)

Planning Performance Agreements - PPAs

• Brief reminder………DCLG commissioned ATLAS research, pilot project to test out research findings.

• 22 local authorities and partners (23 schemes)• Year long project• Independent evaluation• CLG supportive of the pilot and the concept

Objectives of the pilot

• does a PPA improves the quality and efficiency of the development process?

• what, if any, additional support/resources are needed to ensure successful use of PPAs?

• to test the theory from the ATLAS report & the pilot guidance

• to assess what is the most appropriate form for PPAs to take, and find best way of incorporating into the planning process

So what happened?

• Of the 23 pilot schemes, 14 have produced a written document

• For 5, its either ‘work in progress’, or they are putting the principles into practice to varying degrees but no drafted PPA

• For 2, the sites have fallen by the wayside• …and two just never reply to any emails• Interim report September 2006, final report to

CLG January 2007

Who was involved?• Amber Valley & Banks Dvpt• Ashford & S Kent College/GVA

Grimleys/Sheppard Robson• Birmingham & Concept Dvpt

Solutions/KCB Associates• Bracknell Forest & Redrow/Persimmon• Canterbury & Berkeley Homes/Rolfe

Judd• Derby & Urban Innovations/Axis

architects• Durham & Naylors/Drawbridge

Securities/Alistair Grills Assoc• East Devon & East Devon New

Community Partnership• Gateshead & UK Land Estates/Nathaniel

Lichfield• London Borough of Hillingdon & • Stockley Park Consortium Ltd/Montagu

Evans• Hertsmere & Nicolas King Homes PLC

• Isle of Wight & Your Energy Ltd• Lambeth & Network Housing Group/

Stockwell Park Community Trust/Hepher Dixon

• Lancaster & Centros Miller/Montagu Evans

• Leeds & Hammersons/Town Centre Securities/CB Richard Ellis

• Newark & Sherwood & npower • North Dorset & Hall &

Woodhouse/Morgan Carey• Oxford University/Tunberry Consulting• Salford & Higher Broughton Partnership

Ltd/Church Lukas/City Spirit• Sheffield & RREEF Ltd /NJL Consulting• Shepway & Cofton/Hobbs Parker

Property LLP incorporating David Jarman Associates/Nickolls Quarry

• Wyre forest Tescos/GL HearnWyre forest• Wyre forest Community Housing

Did a PPA improve the quality andefficiency of the development process?

• Shared project vision and objectives• Structured framework for managing

process via project plan• Focussed minds via timetable and key

issues list• More positive, and earlier, engagement

with consultees• Early identification of issues – avoiding

late surprises

Did a PPA improve the quality andefficiency of the development process? (cont’d)

• Reduced drift/increased certainty• Set tasks and responsibilities• Clear decision making forum• Collaborative, constructive communication• Better quality submissions

Particularly welcomed by developers

What, if any, additional support or resources are needed?

• Independent facilitator for inception day• Good practice examples• Template• Guidance• Project management training

Some pilot authorities, and many developers, felt they were working to a PPA anyway, so pilot didn’t change anything

Most appropriate form for PPAs to take?

• Agreements not contracts – and voluntary, not required• Owned/drafted by local authority• Record of project team and decision making framework• Project vision and objectives• Project issues and tasks (project plan)• Project programme • Flexible, living documents• Inception Day• Charter

Types of application?

• Pilot had big variety.• Complex schemes raising many issues• Departure?• Unallocated site?

We suggest……

….proposals that:• meet identified strategic objectives• requiring an EIA• that have an impact on strategic areas of

environmentally sensitivity• involving significant non standard planning

obligations• which require referral to a government body or

regional assembly

Stakeholder engagement?

• Earlier involvement appreciated, and responded to it

• Members & corporate buy-in• More structured approach• Particularly welcomed by developers• Statutory consultees – regional variation

Implementation issues

• BVPI 109 performance• Timing• Funding • Public perception

Time……..

• Did it speed up the process?• Did doing a PPA take more time?

Recommendations• That CLG incorporate PPAs into the planning process and

endose their voluntary use throughout the sector as good practice on complex applications

• That PPA applications are taken out of BVPI109a reporting, with a new target to determine the application in accordance with the PDA target agreed between the applicant and planning authority.

• That ATLAS issue revised guidance on; generic charter, components of a PPA, a successful process, when its appropriate and some good practice examples

Recommendations cont’d

• That statutory agencies are required to take part in the PDA process

• PAS/ATLAS devise and undertake a national dissemination programme

• a process is carried out to define the scale and type of proposal eligible for a formal PDA;

• fee structure is amended.

What next?

• LG White Paper, Barker Review - collaborative and partnership working to deliver on complex and strategic proposals

• CLG aim to consult on this, amended fee structure and new definition of major majors………….soon

• ATLAS/PAS then progress guidance• Nothing to stop people from using PPAs now

contact us

PAS website: www.pas.gov.ukPAS discussion forumregister for monthly e-updates

contact PAS: alice.lester@idea.gov.uk or

pas@pas.gov.uk020 7296 6880 (ihelp)