BONFIRE OF THE QUANGOS?
The Government has announced its list of Quangos to be abolished. Whilst the press headlines have focused on names such as the Government Hospitality Advisory Committee on the Purchase of Wines, the cuts proposed actually affect far more fundamental matters which will impact on the day to day activities of businesses.
In Northamptonshire for example, West Northamptonshire Development Corporation is set to be abolished and its planning powers handed back to the Local Councils.  The timeframe is uncertain but it is clear that we will soon be in the position of far more power to shape the growth of areas returning to Local Authorities.
WNDC has failed to fully live up to its remit of delivering the growth and development which is required in the area. Part of the problem has been the lack of any strategic planning to accompany the growth agenda at the local level. The fact that WNDC was not given plan making powers has clearly caused problems and has led to many decisions being made in front of Inspectors at planning appeals rather than being decided locally.

LOCALISM AGENDA
The Localism Bill, due for publication this autumn will provide the platform to devolve powers back to local communities and the Government remains convinced that this will be the way to reverse the trend of historically low levels of house building right across the country.
The Government places considerable emphasis on its Localism Agenda and the abolition of the regional planning tier over the summer was a clear signal of its intentions.  They have also announced that where new housing is allowed, additional Government funding to the tune of the equivalent of six years’ Council Tax will be paid to Local Authorities.  This is intended to demonstrate the benefits to local communities of accommodating new housing.   But there are serious doubts over this approach which seems to ignore both communities reluctance to accept new housing and Councils’ reluctance to support the delivery of housing.  House building rates are at an historically low rate and the inability of increasingly significant sections of the community to find suitable accommodation is becoming a real problem.  Even so it has become increasingly common for Local Authorities to ignore these problems when preparing plans for housing provision in their areas.
BBA has been involved in a housing scheme in Burton Latimer where Kettering Borough Council sought to prevent development of the site in question because they maintained that they had already provided sufficient land to meet housing needs.  But their figures revealed quite clearly that these were based on wholly unrealistic assumptions on the ability of a number of major sites to be delivered.  The matter had to be resolved at a Public Inquiry where the Inspector criticised the Council’s position and agreed with our more realistic approach on the matter. The problem is that despite the recognition of the need for an expansion in house building in order to meet the needs of the population, evidence suggests that Local Authorities in Northamptonshire remain reluctant to accept the realities of the situation and to plan properly to ensure enough land is made available for development.
The abolition of WDNC may provide a more accountable means of delivering development in the west of the county, but this alone will not address the problems that have been created by the lack of strategic planning in the area and a reluctance of Local Authorities to adopt a positive attitude towards the provision of housing growth.  The Localism Agenda will be given a more formal footing in the Autumn and we in the planning profession wait to see how the Government attempts to address both the need to deliver housing and also allow local communities more powers to determine proposals.  What is clear is that the planning system will be in a state of flux for some time to come.
Brian Barber Associates can provide expert advice to guide you through the changing system and can be contacted on 01604 880163.