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Planning for Growth? What the Localism Bill will mean for Birmingham

A Budget day debate on the biggest ever shake-up of the planning system will take place in Birmingham on Wednesday, as the British Property Federation launches the first of its series of regional Planning for Localism seminars.

The event, chaired by BPF chief executive Liz Peace, will hear what the Localism Bill means for development in Birmingham, and how the Localism Bill and its provisions will be vital to ensuring the economic health of the city.

It will also be the first chance to discuss the implications of Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne’s “Budget for Growth” on the planning system, and an opportunity to hear from Andrew Round in his first public appearance as Birmingham City Council’s new Planning and Development Manager.

Liz Peace said: “We’ve expressed our support for the broad objectives of the Localism Bill, but there are still a number of grey areas to be worked through, particularly around the role of local authorities under the new proposals, the mechanisms of neighbourhood planning, both urban and rural, and in particular, how to ensure that the Localism Bill is indeed a catalyst for growth.”

The event will also be an opportunity to find out more about Birmingham’s Big City Plan, and how it may be influenced by the localism agenda. Other issues to be discussed include neighbourhood planning, assets of community value and the National Planning Policy Framework:

• Will these proposals work in Birmingham?
• Will neighbourhood plans be good or bad for growth?
• What role can businesses play in neighbourhood planning?
• Can lessons be learnt about collaborative working from the Business Improvement Districts process?
• What is community value? Can it be proved or quantified?

Mark Kerr, Director at PPS Group, comments: “The Localism Bill pledges to reform the planning system to make it “more democratic and effective”. Many have argued that it will in fact cause planning inertia and goes against the interests of the business community.

“Meanwhile, the Treasury is undertaking its own overhaul of the planning system. Chancellor George Osborne has spoken of his desire to make it easier for companies to obtain planning consent for new schemes – even those that are not welcomed locally. The government’s Growth Review will be unveiled alongside the Budget on 23^rd March, yet the Treasury’s reforms seem at odds with Eric Pickles localism agenda.

“What this does show is that there is still a lot of uncertainty around how localism and the new planning regime will work in practice.”

The seminar will also hear from Andrew Round, Planning and Development Manager at Birmingham City Council, and Mike Best, Director, Turley Associates.

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Notes to editors:

1.       Planning for Localism – Birmingham takes place on Wednesday 23 March, 5.00pm-7.00pm at Wragge and Co, 55 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2AS. If you would like to attend, contact Alex Williamson at awilliamson@bpf.org.uk

2.       The seminars will also take place in Manchester (11 April), Bristol (1 June) and Leeds (13 September)

3.       For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Patrick Clift, Media and Public Affairs Manager, at pclift@bpf.org.uk, or on 07834 439 505

4.       Follow the BPF on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BritProp

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