The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has
published a Policy paper on how to enhance beneficial economic
growth in rural areas through simplifying the planning system in
England.
‘Rural
Powerhouse: a planning system designed for the rural
economy’ aims to inform
decision-making ahead of forthcoming government policy papers.
The CLA, which represents 30,000 rural business in England and
Wales, has identified three key challenges which need to be
overcome to get the rural economy moving again: responding to the
community needs, levelling up the economy and recovering from the
economic impact of Covid-19. A reformed planning system, which
was needed even prior to the global pandemic, could help address
all three.
A restrictive and inefficient planning system is
harming the potential of the economy in rural areas. It leads to
wasted expenditure and unrealistic demands; out-dated perceptions
of the economy in rural areas; and decision-making that seems to
fly in the face of rural interests. Putting this right is one of
the key objectives of the CLA’s Rural Powerhouse campaign to
boost productivity to rural areas.
Major economic and technological trends have provided
new incentives to invest in rural areas, at the same time more
people are seeking a better life in the countryside - something
which COVID-19 has only increased.
This could not only increase the population of rural
areas, but also bring with it a wealth of experience and
expertise, human and social capital. Businesses in rural areas
are seeking to capitalise on this growing trend, but they must
have a planning system to be able to do so.
If implemented, the solutions in the report will
encourage rural businesses to consider new investment, encourage
farm diversification, improve job opportunities and to improve
the interconnectedness of rural and urban supply
chains.
The paper makes a series of short-term and long-term
recommendations to adapt the planning system to respond to the
current and future needs and opportunities of the rural economy.
These include:
Short-term actions:
-
Avoid wasted expenditure
- reduce the burden of
supporting a planning application with costly surveys that can
be nugatory.
-
Exempt all new farm buildings from the
community infrastructure levy
-
Progress heritage
reforms - approve a package of
reforms drawn up by the heritage sector.
-
Open up the local plan to a more segmented
approach so that for example
economic development can forge ahead as soon as that part of
the local plan has been agreed.
-
Make rural communities fit for the future
- local authorities must
factor current and emerging tech development into
sustainability assessments.
-
Introduce a national policy for roadside barn
conversions
-
Resource the planning system so that it is
fit for purpose
Long-term actions:
· Conduct a
comprehensive review of Green Belt planning
policy
· Ensure land value
capture delivers a competitive return to a willing
seller
· Improve the
minerals planning policy
CLA President Mark Bridgeman
said:
“We have a fantastic opportunity to simplify the
planning system and unlock a new wave of investment in the
countryside.
“Planning reform can be an important ingredient to
boost economic development in rural areas and help the recovery.
Rural office locations may become more attractive in the light of
the coronavirus experience; if that is the case, the planning
system needs to be able to respond quickly to emerging
demand.
“In the short term, local planning authorities may
want to free up vacant office and commercial space for new uses
(such as for residential, affordable and sheltered housing).
Again, this requires a flexible and fast-planning
process.
“Unfortunately, the archaic laws that determine what
and where we can build have held back economic development in
rural areas. Now is the time for change.”
Mr Bridgeman added:
“Planning reform is one of the five key pillars that
make up part of the CLA’s Rural Powerhouse campaign which aims to
unleash the potential of the rural economy, by closing the rural
productivity gap and transforming the lives of millions of people
who live and work in the countryside.
“It is clear that an efficient, effective and
proportionate planning system is a key component to an economic
recovery. But we have a planning system that is complex, costly
and riddled with delays.
“It needed reform before the Covid-19 crisis hit and
is now more important than ever. It is crucial that rural areas
are not left behind when the Government reviews the
system.”
Read the
policy document in full here
