Gareth Hooper is partner at DPP's Cardiff office, here he assesses the Welsh review into planning announced this week

The review into planning in Wales should be broadly welcomed; the ambition to create a planning system 'distinct to meet the needs of Wales' is nothing but positive. There are a number of key issues that must be managed to ensure this review delivers its objective though.

The members of the advisory group will be crucial. The business sector needs to be represented to ensure that the system delivers the investment needed to boost the Welsh economy. It's my view that previous consultations on changes to planning have focused too much on issues such as conservation and while a balance is important, the economy has got be a priority or Wales will lose out to England.

The timetable is too long. Some local authorities, including Cardiff, are still relying on outdated Local Development Plans and are already delaying the preparation of new plans because of the unpopularity of approaches such as the release of Greenfield land that is required to meet population and development growth targets. Accordingly, it's my concern that this review announcement could be used by Cardiff and other local authorities to delay decisions that are likely to be difficult and unpopular with the public ahead of local elections next year.

In the meantime, if the white paper is delayed until 2013 following the advisory panel reporting in June 2012, the resulting planning policy vacuum will see any effective traction for pro-growth measures, such as those kick-started by recent Enterprise Zone announcements, stagnate. In theory none of this sits well with the statement from the Assembly Government that this term is about 'delivery' - let's hope the practice proves different.



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About DPP
DPP is a top ten independent town planning consultancy providing strategic advice to the a range of clients. DPP's chartered planners, sustainability, heritage and design experts work with developers, landowners, business operators and public sector bodies, offering services relating to the development and use of land. The firm operates in all development sectors with a particular presence in residential, retail, regeneration, mixed uses, business and commercial.  DPP is committed to maintaining the qualities that separate us from our competitors, as well as continuing to enhance our established reputation for providing high quality, efficient and cost-effective services while helping clients reach their planning and development objectives.

Clients of DPP include Bellway Homes Ltd, Derwent Holdings, Caffé Nero, Centros, Domino's Pizza, English Heritage, Invensys, Liberty Properties, Liverpool Land Development Company, Mercian Developments, The Ministry of Justice, Shell International, Taylor Wimpey, Tesco Stores, Unilever Pension Fund Trustees, United Utilities, the Watkin Jones Group and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Contact
Ceri Edwards, Redwood Consulting
Tel: 020 7828 5553
Email: ceri@redwoodconsulting.co.uk