News & events
PLANNING FOR CHANGE
The planning process is going through a renaissance but the changes are vital if the UK is to move forward through - and beyond - current economic woes.
That was one of the messages from Richard McCarthy, the director general of housing and planning at the Department of Communities and Local Government, addressing LGG’s 15th annual Planning Law Conference held in London on December 8 jointly with Landmark Chambers.
Speaking before an audience of nearly 200 local authority lawyers and planners, Mr McCarthy provided some pointers to areas of interest and importance highlighted in the Planning Bill.
Singling out examples, he said it is vital that we have good, sharp local development plans, and that we know were developable land sits and how that land will be utilised over the next five years.
“This is the most important pressure point: determining how a place develops and identifying the opportunities. Strong local development plans put in place now will ensure local authorities are ready for the upturn when it comes.
“It is a tough challenge to adapt to a new system and there is a lot of change: for some, it might be too much. But there is a lot that needs to be done,” he said, stressing the onus on all those responsible to work together.
You can read a more detailed report on the 15th annual Planning Law Conference in the next issue of Training Brief, published in January.