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Umbrella Group Proposes Vital Changes to the National Planning Policy Framework

14th May 2018

CIHT joins with professional bodies and interests to sign a joint letter to government ministers outlining improvements needed to the National Planning Policy Framework.

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A group of professional bodies, charities and other organisations involved in the planning and delivery of sustainable development, infrastructure and transport services have written a joint letter to government ministers (including the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government) outlining improvements needed to the National Planning Policy Framework.

The group outlines vital changes that would significantly improve the pace at which development proposals clear the planning process and result in high-quality, genuinely sustainable development. These include:

The need for the NPPF to provide clear criteria for the siting of development – limiting a number of the objections that are made to development proposals on transport and environmental grounds
Making the accessibility of a development location by a range of sustainable transport options a key factor in determining a developments suitability
Involving transport authorities and operators throughout the planning process, making transport provision part of the solution rather than a hurdle to be overcome.
The site layout for developments should make appropriate provision for buses, cycling and walking – reducing car dependency carries the added benefit of reducing the traffic impact of new development on existing infrastructure

Sue Percy, Chief Executive, CIHT said:

“CIHT has worked with fellow professionals to highlight some key improvements that can be made to the NPPF and the system of planning in England and Wales to create more sustainable and economically prosperous places. For too long, too many homes have been built in the wrong locations with insufficient integrated transport. CIHT believes we can, and must, do better.”

“We believe that our current planning system needs to change and by improving the integration between planning and transport we can deliver improved outcomes for all.”

The group letter is in support of responses to the formal National Planning Policy Framework consultation that closed this week. Further information on the consultation responses are available here. A full version of the letter is available here.

Signatories to the group are:

Sue Percy, Chief Executive, CIHT, Lynda Addison, Chair, TPS, Victoria Hills, Chief Executive, RTPI, Joe Irvin, Chief Executive, Living Streets, Jonathan Bray, Director, Urban Transport Group, Hugh Ellis, Head of Policy, TCPA, Phil Southall, Managing Director, Oxford Bus Company, Stephen Joseph, Chief Executive, Campaign for Better Transport and Michael Bach, Chairman: Planning, Environment & Transport Committee, London Forum of Amenity & Civic Societies.