Groups warn of 'resource drain' in neighbourhood planning proposals

In a response to the Department for Communities and Local Government's (DCLG) consultation on neighbourhood planning regulations, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) said that whilst it "is generally receptive to the flexible and light touch approach of the neighbourhood planning regulations" it is "concerned that local planning authorities (LPAs) will not have the resources, in terms of budgets and staff, to undertake neighbourhood planning".

The Government had sought views on its plans to pass regulations allowing for greater local involvement in the process for establishing neighbourhood areas and forums and the preparation of neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood development orders. These new planning powers are outlined in the Localism Act 2011, which became law last November.

The RTPI also said that examinations and referendums would be resource intensive and said that it "would like clarity on whether LPAs will receive any additional funding to carry out this activity".

The National Trust's response to the consultation similarly warned that neighbourhood planning will demand "significant" resources. "[This] will place a great emphasis on Local Authorities as the ultimate arbiters and decisions makers. Yet planning services at the local level face severe cutbacks," its response said. "We are concerned that Local Authorities will simply not be able to respond to the demands of plan making, managing development applications and appeals, and supporting neighbourhood planning."

Charity Civic Voice said that it was concerned about a "lack of sanctions against local authorities that delay designation of a neighbourhood forum".

The National Housing Federation, though, said that it backed the plans but wanted the plans to include strict timetables by which local authorities must make decisions. "Delays can erode the motivation of a largely volunteer community group and jeopardise the neighbourhood plan or order," it said.

The DCLG's consultation closed on 5 January 2012 and it is now considering the responses before finalising and publishing neighbourhood planning regulations.

The consultation aimed to consider whether the proposed approach to taking up the regulation-making powers in the Localism Act with regards to neighbourhood planning strikes the right balance between standardising the approach to neighbourhood planning across the country and providing for sufficient local flexibility to reflect local circumstances.