Positive Planning Seminar CPRE Oxfordshire 23rd November 2016

‘Neighbourhood Planning in Rural England: a step in the right direction’ Prof Gavin Parker Professor of Planning, University of Reading

Neighbourhood Planning in Rural England Three parts: NP has attracted criticism – before and since launch Drivers and underpinning ideas… Experimental policy vehicle - Lessons learned

Neighbourhood Planning in Rural England 1. Underpinning ideas Localism / ‘double devolution’ - 2011 and before Trust, understanding, control – longstanding challenge Quality of decisions sharing ownership of problems (and experience of PP, CLP in rural England) Co-production

Neighbourhood Planning in Rural England State of NP…quick review Growing take-up Rural areas leading Waves of completion Numerous issues

Neighbourhood Planning in overview Localism Act 2011 and Frontrunners (April 2011) By November 2016… 1908 designated areas (some dormant) 300 to examination - spread across 96 LPAs 245 to referendum Average time taken 29 months (this underplays the difficulties) Sample of 270 to Examination – all bar one needed modification: x5 plans failed x92 needed ‘extensive’ modification x111 recommended deletion of policies / x6 insertion Average number of policies = x18 Range of content/scope: x2 - x114 policies!

Can compare the geographical spread regionally and disaggregate participating neighbourhoods based on their Urban-Rural Classification of Local Authority Districts. This graph shows that, as expected by many commentators, a large proportion of the 1776 designated areas were in rural areas – 55% of the total were in the first two rural categories (i.e. ‘largely’ and ‘mainly’ rural). Critics foresaw danger that NP could become preserve of affluent rural Parishes… c90% of designated areas in parished areas - 55% in largely rural or mainly rural areas By October 2016 only 166 Forums

Spread of Neighbourhood Planning across England 41% in South East / South West

Spread of NP across Socio-economic profile (IMD) Vast majority in more affluent areas (5=most deprived)

Neighbourhood Planning in Rural England 2. Criticisms Burdens (cost, time, difficulty) Value-adding? (making a difference, growth, meeting needs) Place in the wider system (timing, influence, challenge) Legitimacy, inclusivity and responsibility Still learning…

Neighbourhood Planning in Rural England 3. Lessons learned Burdensome c70% with consultants Intra-community politics Support arrangements / communications Role of LA Reflection of community preferences? Some standing with LPAs / Developers Quality / robustness Not necessarily a tool for all – need to ensure that alternatives are visible, valued and supported Objective-led i.e. the right tool and support for the task / substantive issues faced…

Neighbourhood Planning in Rural England Concluding remarks NP not going away anytime soon Activity in rural areas strong Can be positive - has to be done well Standing with LPAs enhanced Need to engage and evidence Added value?... Process benefits Absence of Local Plan… ‘defensive localism’! Examination arrangements… ‘light touch’ is short-sighted. Govt need to look again at design and operation of process

Neighbourhood Planning in Rural England Parker, G. and Salter, K. (2016) ‘Five years of neighbourhood planning: a review of take-up and distribution’ Town and Country Planning, Vol. 85(5): 181-188. Parker, G., Salter, K. and Hickman, H. (2016) ‘Caution: Examinations in progress’: the operation of Neighbourhood Plan Examinations in England’ Town and Country Planning, Vol. 85(11): in press. THANK YOU  

NP Context “Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. They are able to choose where they want new homes, shops and offices to be built, have their say on what those new buildings should look like and what infrastructure should be provided, and grant planning permission for the new buildings they want to see go ahead” (DCLG, 2014: para 002 Reference ID: 41-002-20140306).

Neighbourhood Planning: Theory and Context 2011 Localism Act Production of Neighbourhood Development Plans seen as a tool to localise responsibility for development. Part of a rethink about how local communities engage with planning. Enable growth…(+enhance knowledge and understanding?) It is also one element of a shift towards drawing in non-state actors to plan-making and creating markets for planning services   Parallel aims: seeking a pluralisation and marketisation of planning practice effort to ‘declutter’ and deregulate planning sits comfortably within a neo-liberal framework Corresponds with an anti-expert sensibility