Planning Inspectorate Newsletter - Issue 12
Message from the Chief Executive
Welcome to the latest edition of the Planning Inspectorate Newsletter.
Change happens. We all know that, and it is important to keep pace. So I am proud and delighted to highlight the newly published procedural appeal guidance featured in this newsletter. The guidance reinforces our commitment to quality, timely appeal decisions which are arrived at fairly, openly and impartially.
I am also delighted to say that we are the proud winners of this years RTPI Award for Employer Commitment to Lifelong Learning – a necessary pre-requisite if we are to continue to build our capabilities to deliver improved services into the future.
As always, I welcome your comments on the items in this issue, or suggestions for future articles..
Katrine Sporle
Chief Executive
May 2009
- Message from the Chief Executive
- 21st Century Appeals System
- Development Plans – Early Engagement Project
- Expert Advisors in Planning Services
- RTPI Planning Awards 2008
- Quality Assurance Unit – A new approach to dealing with complaints
- Planning Obligations and Contributions: Consideration by Inspectors
- Publishing the names and addresses of those who appear at inquiries or hearings
- Stakeholder Meetings
- Other News
Contact
If you wish to subscribe/unsubscribe to this newsletter please contact the Planning Inspectorate Webteam.
21st Century Appeals System
Sean Canavan, Head of Quality and Special Projects, outlines the changes to the appeal process that came into force on 6 April 2009 and provides details of the new Statutory Instruments and explanatory memoranda that have been issued.
Development Plans – Early Engagement Project
Development Plan Inspectors have recently been visiting Local Planning Authorities to advise them about how to prepare for Development Plan Document examinations. Keith Holland, Assistant Director (Development Plans), explains the process and potential benefits of this project.
Read the "Development Plans – Early Engagement Project" article >>
Expert Advisors in Planning Services
From April 2009 the Planning Inspectorate will have access to further expertise through the Panel of Expert Advisors in Planning Services (EAPS). Lee Armitage, Head of Local Development Plans, explains what this means in practice.
Read the "Expert Advisors" article >>
RTPI Planning Awards 2008
The Planning Inspectorate is pleased to announce that it recently won the award for Employer Commitment to Lifelong Learning at the 2008 Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Planning Awards.
Read the “RTPI Planning Awards 2008" article >>
Quality Assurance Unit – A new approach to dealing with complaints
The Quality Assurance Unit has recently reviewed the way that complaints relating to casework are dealt with in the Planning Inspectorate. Sean Canavan summarises the new approach.
Read the "new approach to dealing with complaints" article >>
Planning Obligations and Contributions: Consideration by Inspectors
Richard Holland, Section Manager on the LDF, General Land Use and Environmental Policy team, outlines the key issues Inspectors need to consider when dealing with LPA requests for contributions through planning obligations.
Read the "Planning Obligations and Contributions: Consideration by Inspectors" article >>
Publishing the names and addresses of those who appear at inquiries or hearings
The Planning Inspectorate will shortly cease publishing the names and addresses of those who appear at Hearings and Inquiries. Richard Holland, Section Manager on the LDF, General Land Use and Environmental Policy team outlines this decision.
STAKEHOLDER NEWS
Meeting PINS/CLG/Professional Organisations
A special meeting was held on 18 March between PINS, CLG and various professional organisations on the Implementation of the Planning Act – Improving the Appeals Process. Following that meeting, PINS has produced guidance to explain the changes to the appeal system that are being put in place to make the appeal process more proportionate, customer focused and efficient whilst maintaining the principles of fairness, openness and impartiality.
Procedural Guidance: Planning Appeals and Called-in Planning Applications
Other Stakeholder meetings
Other meetings during the year are being arranged as follows:
31 March |
- |
Regional Bodies |
8 July |
- |
Development Community |
14 July |
- |
Rights of Way Groups |
16 July |
- |
General Interest Groups |
3 September |
- |
Professional Groups |
2 October |
- |
Public Bodies |
October/November |
- |
Legal Bodies |
Feedback notes from these meetings will be published in the Newsletter at the appropriate time.
Sheila Rice
South Downs National Park 
Following an Inquiry report submitted by Senior Planning Inspector Robert Parry, the government has given the go ahead for the South Downs to become England’s ninth national park.
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced on 31st March 2009 that a new National Park will be created for the South Downs adding that the status would attract visitors, businesses and investment to the area.
The protected area is in line with the Inspector recommendations and will stretch from Beachy Head to the edge of Winchester.
Next Issue: The next issue of the Planning Inspectorate newsletter will be published in June.
