It is very difficult to avoid being
hypercritical of those working in a planning system that is failing to realize
its potential in dealing with some serious societal and environmental
problems. I would like to report that
the new version of the National Policy Planning Framework issued in July 2018 promises
to reset the planning of land and buildings enabling it to contribute to the
transition to a low carbon economy and caring society. However, having read the NPPF and many of the
expert reactions, there is nothing to suggest that the planning system will
assist in the reduction of carbon emissions, make housing more affordable, slow
down the loss of biodiversity, ensure that the electrification of road
transport will reduce hypermobility and increase accessibility, improve air quality, assist with social
care or generate local/regional food systems.
While commentators can’t seem to be able to
bring themselves to say that the whole exercise was a complete waste of time
and missed opportunity, there is not one change to be brought to reader’s
attention that is likely to ameliorate any of the damaging and existential threats.
The only comfort is that there is
legislation in place (Climate Change Act 2008, Planning and Compulsory Purchase
Act 2004 and the Selfbuild and Customhousebuilding Act 2015 (as amended) that
should have more power than even Government policy, as well as the Paris
Climate Agreement, the Committee on Climate Change and the speech of November
2017 from the then housing minister Alok Sharma (on the Gov.uk web site) regarding
community led housing. Problems and
opportunities for agroecology, social care, and the electrification and
automation of the road transport system don’t even have this kind of support.
