In more detail
Sustainable development is at the heart of both planning policy and the role of local councils in England.
The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that there should be a presumption in favour of it running through local plans (including neighbourhood plans) and the decisions made by councils based on them (through local planning enforcement).
Sustainable development is also what the law says councils have a duty to bring about in the places they serve, through improving economic, social and environmental well-being. But what does 'sustainable development' really mean in practice in planning?
If you look it up on the internet, you will find a range of answers so wide that in practice, sustainable development could be taken to mean anything. From no development at all (given that all development necessarily implies some energy and natural resources are used up), to any and all development - so long as we believe that won't stop even more economic exploitation of natural resources in future.
National Planning Policy
Here is what the government's planning guidance says the presumption in favour of sustainable development means in practice:
- local planning authorities should 'positively seek opportunities to meet the development needs of their area'
- local Plans should 'meet objectively assessed needs, with sufficient flexibility to adapt to rapid change' unless the adverse impacts of doing so would 'significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits', when assessed against planning policy as a whole or any of those policies says that such development should be restricted.
And that councils should:
- 'approve development proposals that accord with the development plan without delay'
- in the absence of a local development plan or where it is out-of-date, councils should grant planning permission unless the adverse impacts of doing so would 'significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits', when assessed against planning policies as a whole or specific policies say that such development should be restricted.
So, the presumption in favour of sustainable development in the spatial planning system means: presuming in favour of development; rejecting development only when there is evidence it will conflict with existing policy; not delaying decisions unnecessarily; and following both national and local policy.
| Key Facts:
Sustainable development means meeting current needs without compromising the ability of future generation's to meet theirs. It is the purpose set out in law of local councils - who have responsibility for the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the places they serve. The presumption in favour of sustainable development in the planning system, however, means more specifically that councils should: presume in favour of development; reject development only when there is evidence it will conflict with existing policy; not delay decisions unnecessarily; and make sure that new policy (including neighbourhood plans) follows both national and local policy. |
Page Links from here
Planning Guidance from the Dept of Communities and Local Government on Achieving Sustainable Development
Local Planning System
OR you can use the navigation menu above right to look at other parts of the toolkit.
BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY PLANNING TOOLKIT DEFINITION SHEET This sheet may be reproduced in paper or electromic or any other form but please mention it was made by Chamberlain Forum Limited for Birmingham City Council supported by Department for Communities and Local Government.
| created: 2016-06-04 13:27:10 | by: admin | status: f published |