One local society's response to the planning changes

 

I'll confess that this post is less business related than some although the impact of planning changes will echo through the business community.  It follows on from my blog of my views on the future of the high street under the changes proposed by the Government in their recent consultation "Supporting housing delivery and public service infrastructure" which I discuss here.

Our local community group in South London  (I'll hold my hands up now in the interests of transparency - I chair it) responded to the Government consultation making the following major points:

• The proposals could result in a significant reduction in shops and small creative work units which are typically less profitable to developers than residential homes
• A reduction in the available of shopping premises will potentially exacerbate the demise of the local high street already under COVID pressures
• A reduction in creative workspace will similarly hinder the expansion of the enterprise economy much needed post-COVID and post Brexit
• Both these reductions run contrary to the idea of a "15 minute city" where everything is in reach without using cars
• The proposals would also have a significant impact on communities which has not been considered and considerably reduces community involvement in planning in their areas
• Local Councils should retain the ability to control the mix of residential/commercial/shopping within their areas to ensure that vibrant communities remain and this should not be left in the hands of developers
• Residents' views must be taken into account in larger scale change of use proposals which could affect their communities
• Protection must be included for Conservation Areas and any new rules should not override existing Article 4 protections
• There is no mention of s106 agreements which, given that this new right will apply to any size of conversion (potentially even converting a shopping centre into residential), means that considerable additional housing could be provided without any new funding for new schools, medical facilities, leisure, green space or the like
• Lack of income from s106 agreements (and potential reduced income from business rates) may place added financial burdens on Councils
• Reducing consultation times to 14 days on large infrastructure projects is unacceptable - it does not give long enough for the public to organise a considered response and, in some instances, where proposals are timed to coincide with holiday periods, entirely disenfranchise residents.

We were not alone in these views. Many local bodies as well as umbrella organisations such as the London Forum and Civic Voice, together with the Greater London Council and other local authorities,  have expressed concern over the proposals as has the British Property Federation.

Our society's full response can be read here.