TCPA manifesto says deregulation has undermined planning system, calls for socially-motivated planning

In its pre-election manifesto, 'Building the Future' (4-page / 1.1 MB PDF), the TCPA said that "planning in England is under threat from deregulation, demoralisation and poor resourcing". It said that "national planning policy has lost any sense of ... progressive social values" and called on the next government to change the National Planning Policy Framework "to ensure that social justice, equality and climate change are at the heart of all planning decisions".

The TCPA said the present government's planning changes had "gone too far, leaving us without any strategic planning and with the weak duty to co-operate". It recommended the introduction of "an integrated national planning strategy" to ensure better planning for the country's infrastructure needs. It also called for the next government to compel combined authorities in city regions to produce "statutory co-operation framework[s]" and introduce "strong measures" to ensure co-operation between councils across defined housing market areas.

The manifesto said power over the change of use of buildings should be given back to local authorities by removing permitted development rights that allow offices and warehouses to be converted into homes without planning permission. It also called for council planning departments to be given "proper resources to enable local government to deliver a modern, efficient and fair planning service" and for new towns legislation to be updated and deployed "to drive positive area-based planning and help deliver a new generation of garden cities".

Kate Henderson, chief executive of the TCPA said, in a statement: "At its best, planning has proved to be a powerful tool to bring forward sustainable growth, and to deliver multiple benefits to our society including certainty and confidence for businesses, democratic rights for communities and protection for our environment, heritage and biodiversity."

"As we continue to battle with the nation’s housing crisis, good planning is needed as never before to plan for and create the homes and communities we desperately need," said Henderson.