Planning for Action.

Success could leave a lasting legacy.  The government must have hopes it can boost popularity and support growth in a struggling economy.  But given how long it takes to mobilise projects – even when consented – there is every chance that the popularity it boosts will be that of a future government.

Having worked in planning communications since 1995, I have witnessed many attempts that claim to be aimed at improving delivery and speeding up development (fondly remembers localism). What I do think is different about the new Act is that this genuinely feels like it could make a difference – and that there is a real commitment to making things happen.  That should be a low bar to jump, but given how controversial so much development has always been with communities, bravery has not always been at the forefront of planning reform.

A speedier and more flexible NSIP regime – including reducing the opportunities for legal challenge -can boost certainty and deliver vital infrastructure more quickly.  Giving greater weight to national, over local policy, streamlining decisions at a local level to delegate additional powers, and putting more decisions into the hands of local authority planning officers could help see housing delivered more quickly.

Changes such as environmental delivery plans, spatial development strategies and mayoral strategic authorities all sound positive but fall into the category of ‘will they be up and running in the life of this parliament?’ But nevertheless, I am optimistic – as someone who is pro things being built, investment being pulled into the country and opportunity being created for everyone who lives here – that the new Act will result in positive change.

But what about the medium-term benefits?  Having worked on many projects – including over 20 NSIPs – I feel that the Act clearly comes at an important moment, when political and public opposition to a range of projects is growing.  This is not of course a new thing, but as politics gets more fragmented it feels like this groundswell of objection is perhaps accelerating at precisely the point we need to be heading in the opposite direction.

If the government wants to deliver not only the projects in its immediate sights, but to create a lasting legacy and solid foundations for the future, then positive and effective communications are going to be key.  I would say that, wouldn’t I? But it’s true. At the same time that the legislative guide rails are being lowered – and perhaps because of it – more work needs to go into boosting understanding, demonstrating the benefits of projects, and helping communities feel those benefits. Consultation will need to be creative and meaningful and changes to the statutory consultation requirements of NSIPs cannot mean there’s just no consultation.  To avoid salting the earth for developments to come and damaging the reputation of the NSIP and TCPA regimes, local authorities will need to feel they are involved and communities that they are not becoming even more remote from the distant gilded towers where the decisions are being taken.

Of course, the changes can really help here.  The language of consultation can change and become clearer and more confident.  I still can’t get my head around how it must feel to be a small, rural parish council receiving and trying to understand a scoping report or battling their way through the umpteen chapters of a PEIR. But there is still uncertainty about a lot of things.  A majority of the Act is coming into force with immediate effect, meaning that it will apply to all live or new projects moving forward. However, ongoing activity (particularly around consultation) will be guided further by advice due to be published by government in the new year.

In the meantime, we suspect most developers will begin by mirroring what has gone before, to de-risk the process while its new limits are tested by others. While the government has removed statutory requirements creating opportunities to increase speed and reduce costs, it remains clear that it expects “high quality early, meaningful and constructive engagement and consultation” and it would be brave (or foolhardy) to ignore this. By setting a quality test for consultation it is challenging developers to think creatively and do things better. And by offering the chance to reduce tick box, formulaic consultation bound in a legal straightjacket, but focusing on quality there is a route to reducing waste and genuinely improving outcomes. 

Allied to wider reforms to the NPPF and the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, I can see a route to a clearer strategic framework, better decision making and increased delivery.  But with so many developers keeping one eye on what could happen at the next general election and wanting to get consent before 2029, for the legislation to survive subsequent parliaments and provide a stable foundation for long term investment, it needs to be seen to work. My view is the government will not welcome projects that don’t make efforts to bring communities with them and deliver that quality of engagement and consultation.

As a communications agency with huge experience in this area (we’ve worked on more than 50 NSIPS) Camargue and colleagues working in communications have a big role to play.  At this time of political and community volatility, communications need to:

• Plan ahead to ensure consultation and engagement is a positive and creative part of the new Planning and Infrastructure Act process

• Work with and support councils, stakeholders and communities in understanding and embracing the new system

• Creatively engage with communities to build up a body of evidence that shows consultation delivers results and creates change

• Find ways to use the Act to speed things up, cut out inefficiency, and deliver results.

While all the details are not yet clear, this is a big moment of opportunity.  One the entire planning community should look to embrace.