Draft NPPF will not result in uncontrolled development, say developers and planning experts

Planning experts claim that the proposed reforms will not result in uncontrolled and widespread development, as alleged by campaigners. It was submitted that the "debate has become a little extreme".

Eight planning experts and business executives were invited to give evidence to MPs in Westminster on Monday night to answe a series of set questions.

The initial questions posed were: 'will the draft NPPF be good for business?' and 'what are the main principles of the changes proposed by the NPPF?'

The draft NPPF has been the subject of criticism from environmental campaigners who have claimed that that the combination of 'a presumption in favour of sustainable development' and the lack of a 'brownfield first' rule will lead to unplanned and sprawling development across greenbelt land.

But the planning experts and businessmen rejected these claims at the hearing.

"You see the extraordinary safeguards that we have built in the British system," according to Adam Marshall of the British Chamber of Commerce, according to Inside Housing. "Things aren’t going to change: there is greenbelt designation which is not going to be affected."

The NPPF's presumption in favour of susatainable development suggests that in some instances the default response should be 'yes' to a request to grant planning permission.

"[The] words that you don’t see on the front page of the Daily Telegraph [are that] if you can show that the adverse effects of development outweigh the benefits then planning consent is refused,” said John Rhodes, director of Quod Planning.

Rhodes said that the debate has become "extreme" and that work has gone into the policy to achieve a balance. Critics maintain, though, that without definition of the word 'presumption' in the framework, the policy will lead to deregulation and uncertainty.

The Committee debated the need to gain support from local communities on proposed developments. It was suggested that housing quality should be improved, which would lead to greater support from communities.

 "We need the right incentives for communities to be compensated for development," said Paul Cheshire, professor of economic geography at the London School of Economics.

There are three further Select Committee meetings scheduled for the coming two months, each with different speakers and representatives invited. The Department for Communities and Local Government has published all 130 written submissions on the draft NPPF.

The consultation on the draft NPPF closes on 17 October 2011.