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Government backs study to improve the planning sector' knowledge of the economics of development

Groups representing the property industry, town planners, local government and Government agencies have come together in a project designed to improve councillors’ and planners’ understanding of the economics of development in a government-backed project to be announced in the pre-Budget report.

The project enjoys the support of the department for Communities and Local Government and will be carried out by planning consultants Roger Tym & Partners.

The project reflects growing concern that a failure to understand issues affecting viability is inhibiting beneficial development.

The study will identify who requires what kind of training, looking at what currently exists and how additional training could be provided most cost effectively.

It is felt that more sound decision making can be encouraged by providing professional planners, elected councillors and other relevant stakeholders with a better understanding of:

• the different attitudes developers have towards risk and return
• factors that impact the viability of individual developments

The property crash and constraints on public spending will force a greater focus on joint working between developers and councils. Meanwhile, the introduction of the community infrastructure levy and reform of section 106 obligations will also change the development landscape, reinforcing the need for quality training.

A key element of the study is a survey of planners, other professionals involved in planning and councillors who are lead members for planning or members of planning committees. The survey can be accessed via www.tymconsult.com.

For more information and all PR and media queries, please contact Andrew Teacher, Head of Media, on 020 7802 0113 or 07968 12 45 45 or ateacher@bpf.org.uk. 

Quotes

Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation said “This is an excellent project, which will hopefully foster greater understanding of the financial constraints that developers face and the different mechanisms that the public sector can use to help deliver economic growth”.

John Parmiter, Partner at Roger Tym & Partners said, “Roger Tym & Partners is delighted to have been appointed to undertake this study. We have long taken the view that development economics and implementation are not sufficiently well understood in the planning sector and the study provides a timely and exciting opportunity to identify some of the remedies to the problem”.

"For front line local authority planners in both development management and plan making, it is vital to have a good grasp of costings" said Graeme Bell, Director of Planning, Infrastructure and Economy at Devon County Council. "A council can't afford to become a 'no go area' for developers, rather it wants to encourage good schemes coming forward that benefit the local community and also sends the message to developers that the local authority is open for business."

Notes

The sponsoring bodies are the British Property Federation, British Urban Regeneration Association, Devon County Council, HCA Academy, HCA Advisory Team for Large Applications, Planning Advisory Service, Planning Inspectorate, Planning Officers Society, Royal Town Planning Institute, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Valuation Office Agency, working in conjunction with Communities and Local Government.