CIHT welcomes the opportunity to respond to the recently released report by Lord Taylor of Goss Moor into the revision of Government Planning Practice Guidance.  The report states that the system itself is no longer fit for purpose and recommends that guidance should be cut to that which is essential and clearly defined. 

 

The report goes on to suggest that much of the new and revised guidance should be sector led. The report also advises that in future Government Planning Practice Guidance should be a web-based live resource, hosted on a single sit as a coherent up-to-date guidance suite. The guidance suite must also be actively managed to keep it current and that it would be valuable if it was subject to an annual review.

 

CIHT welcome the recommendation to prepare new streamlined guidance to replace ‘Good Practice Guidelines: Delivering Travel Plans through the Planning Process (2009)’ and ‘Guidance on Transport Assessments (2007)’.  However, we are concerned that it is unclear in the recommendations as to whether the existing guidance should be cancelled before new guidance is prepared.

 

The Taylor review describes Manual for Streets (2007) as containing some good advice, but is not needed in its current format. It recommends that the manual is kept for now, but a review needs to take place to decide what is planning advice and what is outside planning and can be provided elsewhere. CIHT are concerned that the report fails to recognise the essential part that well-designed streets play in the delivering of good places that meet the requirements of the NPPF.  MfS addresses both planners and engineers and there is a danger that this would be lost in any redraft.

 

CIHT will be responding to the consultation with a number of other organisations. 

 

To view the full guidance please click here.