The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has cautiously welcomed
commitments in the government’s Spending Review to level up the
country and invest in homebuilding.
But the Institute has also expressed disappointment that just £12
million has been allocated to take forward its planning reform
agenda, just 10 per cent of what is required.
Victoria Hills, chief executive of the RTPI, said: “While we
understand the impact the pandemic has had on the country’s
public finances, the government will not be able to achieve its
ambitions to radically overhaul the planning system without
adequate investment in local authorities.
“While we welcome the £4 billion Levelling Up fund and the £7.1
billion National Homebuilding fund, we are concerned that local
democracy is once again being disenfranchised. Encouraging a
bidding culture impacts on the ability for long term planning,
creates winners and losers and requires resourcing to apply for.
“In our White Paper response we called for the introduction of
Green Growth Boards to deliver joined-up strategies for climate
action, infrastructure, housing provision, health and nature
recovery on a regional level.”
“Local Authority planning departments have seen a 42% reduction
in funding over the past decade which has had implications not
just for efficiency or process. The £12 million announced by the
Chancellor today is woefully inadequate and fails to recognise
the vital role the UK planning system plays in the economic
recovery post-Covid.”
In its formal
response to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), the
Institute set out the vital role planning plays in facilitating
economic growth, providing affordable housing, tackling climate
change, ensuring access to green space and improving wellbeing.
It called for £500m over the next four years to enable planning
departments to delivery outcomes efficiently, effectively and
equitably.
Ms Hills welcomed the publication of the National Infrastructure
Strategy but again called for spending on national infrastructure
to be firmly linked into local infrastructure and housing.
“National infrastructure objectives require a place based
approach to exploit synergies between sectors including energy,
transport and digital, flood defences and green infrastructure,
and to coordinate delivery for maximum efficiency. This is a role
for planning in the broadest sense.
“Furthermore, city-regions need a robust understanding of their
infrastructure need to enable the proposed National
Infrastructure Bank to channel public/private sector investment
to support delivery.”
