The Landscape Institute welcomes the latest updates from the government about its ‘Plan for Change’, which aims to kickstart economic growth by unlocking the planning system to ‘rebuild Britain’.
Over recent days, prime minister Keir Starmer and minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, have spoken about the ‘blockers and the bureaucrats’ that have been ‘holding back’ the development of new homes and infrastructure.
On top of the 1.5 million homes committed to in its election campaign, the government has now also promised to fast-track decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects as part of its growth agenda. Changes will put an updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), mandatory local plans and an updated planning committee structure at the heart of reform.
Image: Maritime Streets, Barrow-in-Furness, a landscape-led project by Farrer Huxley Limited
Looking ahead, it is vital that the planning system does not begin to adversely impact nature and local communities when addressing these blockages. The development and management of land must be considered and delivered as an opportunity to foster multi-functional outcomes for people, place and nature. Policy and plans must be in place which enable all three to thrive in harmony.
Belinda Gordon, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Landscape Institute, said: “The Landscape Institute has consistently called on this government to take a strategic, landscape-led approach to planning. We welcome the approach outlined in the ‘Plan for Change’, which aims to link the development of housing and infrastructure with local growth and environmental improvement. However, some of the rhetoric was worrying – we can deliver on nature and housing and infrastructure, and an effective, landscape-led planning system is the means of doing this.
“Our members, in both public and private sectors, are uniquely positioned to deliver across environmental and development objectives. We need a planning system that enables them to do this.
“Measures such as embedding regional collaboration, community engagement, landscape character and environmental net gain into local plans and the NPPF all help to facilitate the government’s ambition.
“We look forward to more details being released, and working with the government, civil service and local authorities on these areas, where our members’ expertise can really make a difference.”
