Civic Voice - TrustNews Mar 13
The Government's appetite for reform of the planning system continues unabated as it persists in believing that planning is a barrier to their overwhelming priority of economic growth. Civic Voice and the Trust acknowledge the need for a strong economy but believe the Governments view of planning is profoundly mistaken and that a robust planning system is an essential component for delivering high quality development in the right place. So the Trust considers Civic Voice’s role of lobbying the Department of Communities and Local Government on behalf of all its members is extremely valuable and, with the help of experienced practitioners available to them, they can respond within the shortened time now given for consultations. And this lobbying extends to meetings with Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State and the current planning minister Nick Boles, thus helping to get the civic movement’s views across to those making decisions.
Recently proposed changes to planning include: removing the need for planning permission for larger extensions to buildings, removing the need for permission for change of use of buildings from employment to housing, and relaxation of rules on the siting of broadband cabinets and overhead fibre networks.
One of the campaigning priorities for the current year agreed at the AGM of Civic Voice is the promotion of local lists of buildings considered important to the community. Although a local list does not give the same level of protection as a statutory list, they have been considered valuable in those local authorities that have them. The central area of Winchester has a measure of protection from its designation as a conservation area; yet the Trust believes a local list would be a useful addition, particularly beyond the conservation area. It has tried, unsuccessfully so far, to interest Winchester City Council in this, as the local authority needs to give it a certain level of support. By asking for Civic Voice’s help, we have been put in touch with several civic societies which have encountered the same problem of lack of support from their local council. So this is another recent instance of a benefit we get from our membership.