Planning Inspectorate Newsletter - Issue 1
Hello and Welcome
Welcome to the first edition of the Planning Inspectorate's newsletter.
For some time now we have been considering the best way to encourage a two-way communication with our customers and stakeholders. We want our communications to be dynamic, open and responsive. And we want to be able to cover a range of issues, whether dispelling some of the myths that surround the Inspectorate or sharing our experience of new systems, procedures and initiatives.
This first edition contains contributions on three aspects of the new development plan system, high hedges appeals, inquiry facilities and the latest customer satisfaction survey. All have been written by Inspectors and Inspectorate staff.
We intend to publish the newsletter four times a year in electronic form. Your comments on this edition and suggestions for items in future editions are welcome. So if you want to expose any issues or dispel any myths, please e-mail me on KatrineSporleNews@pins.gsi.gov.uk.
I hope you enjoy this first issue.
Katrine Sporle
Chief Executive
January 2006
Contact
If you wish to subscribe/unsubscribe to this newsletter please contact the Planning Inspectorate Webteam.
The New Development Plan System in England
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 brought in a new development plan system for England. Under the new system regional spatial strategies (RSS) and development plan documents (DPD) will form the framework for taking decisions on planning applications. Both RSS and DPDs are subject to independent examination. DPD examinations will be carried out by Planning Inspectors.
Leonora Rozee, the Planning Inspectorate’s Director of Policy and Head of Profession, gives an overview of the Inspectorate’s role in the new system.
Read the "New Development Plan System in England" article >>
The New Development Plan System in England: Statements of Community Involvement
Statements of Community Involvement (SCI) are part of the new development plan process in England. In his article, Martin Steer, Head of the Planning Inspectorate’s Local Development Framework team explains the requirements and offers suggestions about how some of the initial problems can be overcome.
New Development Plan Guides
On 20 December 2005, the Inspectorate published two guides about best practice in public examinations of Development Plan Documents (DPD) and Statements of Community Involvement (SCI). The guides, which are intended to assist all parties involved in the development plan process, were prepared with help from a number of professional and other bodies.
The guides - Development Plans Examination – A Guide to the Process of Assessing the Soundness of Development Plan Documents and Development Plans Examination – A Guide to the Process of Assessing the Soundness of Statements of Community Involvement - build upon the tests of soundness set out in PPS12 by setting out key questions that will need to be addressed. They clarify the roles of the Inspector, local planning authority, government offices, regional planning bodies and the wider community. Hard copies have been sent to local planning authorities. Further copies are available from Martin Smith martin.smith@pins.gsi.gov.uk, or can be downloaded from our guidance section.
Inquiry Venue and Facilities Guidance Note
As some of you will know, the venue and facilities for public inquiries and hearings into development plans, planning appeals, compulsory purchase, and rights of way orders and for other types of casework, are normally provided by the local planning authority (LPA).
To ensure that the venue and facilities are appropriate for the event and for people with special needs, the Planning Inspectorate's Diversity team issues guidance to the LPA on the location and size requirements for an inquiry/hearing venue and the facilities that need to be provided. A copy of the guidance has been sent to all LPAs. It is also published on the Planning Inspectorate's website http://www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/pins/appeals/venue_and_facilities.htm
High Hedges Appeals
The High Hedges (Appeals) (Wales) Regulations 2004 came into force on 31 December 2004. The High Hedges (Appeals) (England) Regulations 2005 came into force on 1 June 2005. Alan Langton, the Planning Inspectorate’s Director with responsibility for work in Wales and major and specialist casework explains the background to the regulations and how appeals are dealt with.
Customer Satisfaction with the Planning Inspectorate Increases
In 2002 the Planning Inspectorate commissioned a three-year rolling programme of customer satisfaction surveys which covered most aspects of the Inspectorate’s business. The 2005 survey is the first of another three-year rolling programme of surveys to track satisfaction levels and the progress made by the Planning Inspectorate in acting upon the results of the 2002 survey.
The provisional results of our 2005 customer satisfaction survey indicate that overall satisfaction has risen to 67%, from 64% in 2004.
The survey is being carried out by independent consultants. It includes interviews and focus groups, as well as a large scale written questionnaire covering local planning authorities, agents, appellants and third parties. The survey covers all the main areas of our work. The complete survey results will be available in Spring 2006.
