Business to have say in local planning

Author: Jim Pickard and Daniel Thomas, FT - May 18, 2011

Posted in: Planning, Housing and Economic Development / Improving the system for planning and development / Local Government News

London’s South Bank and Trafford Park in Manchester are among eight areas that will act as pilots for new business-led “neighbourhood plans”, the government will announce this week.

The plan reflects a last-minute alteration to the localism bill after business groups complained that companies were being sidelined from the process.

Under the original government plans, neighbourhood groups were to “shape where they live” while councils would no longer dominate the planning process. There was no suggestion that companies would be expected to get involved.

But under an amendment to his own bill, Eric Pickles, communities secretary, has introduced a provision for business to be heavily engaged in drawing up such plans for parish council-sized areas. They will be able to give blanket planning permission to certain types of development

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