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BPF endorses plan to improve planning system

The property industry’s trade body has pledged its support for a new initiative launched today to improve the planning system.

The British Property Federation has welcomed the launch of the National Planning Forum’s (NPF) action plan for improving the planning system and has set out the actions it will take to help make the improvements a reality.

The NPF action plan builds on the culture change manifesto it released in July 2007. The action plan commits NPF members to undertake specific points of action which collectively will help to improve the planning system.

In support, the BPF has committed itself to:

• regularly update its members about spatial planning and developments in the planning world
• work with government agencies to provide seminars for the private sector on best practice
• maintain regular channel of contact with the Planning Inspectorate; work with it, Communities and Local Government and BPF members to explore how best the business sector can engage with plan making
• work in conjunction with other stakeholders to explore the idea of establishing a training module on development economics, and investigate the feasibility of creating a system by which BPF members would be able to offer a structured internship secondment scheme to planning students and/or local authority planners
• where research is commissioned which is relevant to planning, consider if there are other stakeholders that the BPF can partner with to achieve wider and more effective dissemination.

The BPF launched its own Planning Manifesto last autumn, containing 12 points which could improve the planning system and calling for a pragmatic approach to help support and improve planning. The manifesto was a sign of the private sector’s commitment to the planning system, which is further emphasised by the BPF’s endorsement of the NPF’s action plan.

The BPF’s assistant director for planning, Jonathan Seager, said:

“The NPF’s action plan is a significant achievement as it commits both the public and private sectors to specific actions that will help to improve the planning system.

“The action plan is especially significant in the light of the current economic downturn. All those involved in planning must work together to keep projects currently in the planning system viable.”

Notes to editors

1. The National Planning Forum (NPF) is the principal cross-sectoral forum focussing on planning in England. It comprises 75 members in each of the five sectors: central government agencies, local government, business, the built and land use professions, and non-governmental organisations. The NPFs mission is to “inspire planning and planners”.

2. The NPF’s work is directed by an executive board comprising representatives of each sector. The current chairman is Liz Peace, chief executive of the British Property Federation and vice-chair (business). Other members are: Cllr Mike Haines Teignbridge District Council, Local Government Association and vice-chair (local government); Mike Hayes, Royal Town Planning Institute and vice-chair (professions); Simon Marsh, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and vice-chair (non-governmental organisations); and Mark Southgate, Planning Inspectorate and vice-chair (government agencies).

3. The NPF launched its ‘Manifesto for Change’ in July last year and has now developed an action plan that commits its members to specific actions. Work on the plan was informed by the report “Delivering Inspiring Places: the Role and Status of Planning” commissioned from Janice Morphet, with Tony Burton and Laura Hughes of IDOX plc. This report is on the NPF web-site: http://www.natplanforum.org.uk

4. Copies of the action plan (1 page A3) and further information can be obtained from: Kay Powell, Secretary: t: 029-20568643 or m: 07774 139 506. Background information and reports from the NPF can be accessed on the web-site: http://www.natplanforum.org.uk

5. The BPF’s Planning Manifesto released in autumn 2008 is available here.