Influencing planning policies
The planning system works to ensure that the right kind of development occurs in the right place and that this should be balanced with the protection of the environment. To do this development needs to be planned and this is done through the production of development plans.
Development plans are then used to guide and inform day to day decisions as to whether or not planning permission should be granted. This system is sometimes called development control and sometimes called development management. The use of development plans helps ensure that decisions on individual applications are rationale and consistent.
Until recently local development plans reflected the regional spatial plan. The coalition government are currently in the process of revising the planning system and intend to abolished the regional plan. They are instead proposing a National Planning Policy Framework.
The role of central government in the planning process is explained on the Department for Communities and Local Government website.
If anyone wants to talk to someone from the Trust about this then please contact Pauline Holmes on 01489 774419, or PaulinH@hwt.org.uk.
