Planning Reform - a meeting with Steve Brine - TrustNews Mar 13
In December, we were invited by Steve Brine to meet him at the House of Commons to explain the Trust's concerns about the government's planning reforms. It is not that the Trust is opposed to reform, which in many respects is long overdue, with regulations and guidelines piled one upon another over the years — much like the tax system. All would agree that reform of either should be a matter of rationalising the complicated rules and processes with the primary objective of improving the system so that it achieves its objectives with a minimum of fuss and with maximum clarity. Our worry is that the objective of good planning is being subsumed by the governments wish to energise the national economy, with the risk that the proper role of the planning system will be weakened.
For Winchester this means that care for the character of the City and its setting will not receive as much attention as it deserves in the push for growth. A good example is the way in which Conservation Area legislation was introduced not to prevent change and growth but to ensure that it enhanced the character of the area in the process. This caused all concerned to think about enhancement as well as change, and emphasised the need for forethought and good design. Giving overriding economic priority means that the degree of control local government can apply and the resources it can muster to ensure good design (of areas as much as individual buildings) is being reduced. At the same time the government is emphasising the critical importance of good design in creating a successful local economy, but has so far given little help or guidance on how this is to be delivered.
During our meeting Steve was very understanding and said he would use every opportunity to make our case for improving as well as simplifying the planning system. We in turn need to brief him well as we develop not only our ideas on the subject as a whole, but on imminent new developments affecting the character of Winchester, such as Barton Farm of course, and the need to think well ahead about potential areas of regeneration within the City, such as the area around the station, which are both discussed separately in this issue.