1. Local Dialogue hosts Fringe
Events at the Party Conferences October 2011
Local Dialogue hosted packed fringe events at each of the conferences debating the subject
of ‘Localism and Growth: Can the new planning system deliver both?’
The following briefing document will summarise the key planning points from each debate.
Liberal Democrats
‘Participation must extend to every group – no stakeholder left behind’
Of the planning related fringes at Liberal Democrat Conference the event Localism and Growth was one of the
liveliest and best attended. The panel was made up of Stephen Gilbert MP, CLG committee member, Dr Tim
Leunig, Chief Economist of CentreForum, Trudi Elliot, the RTPI’s Chief Executive and Local Dialogue Partner,
Mark Brown.
Stephen Gilbert MP stated that the Localism Bill will be an essential element in dismantling the top down
“Whitehall knows best”. However, his concerns, shared by the wider Liberal Democrat membership, focused on
three elements that had to be improved:
1. Transitional arrangements should be made clearer
2. Less affluent areas must not be abandoned
3. Neighbourhood planning should not solely be driven by home owners
Mark Brown suggested that a key challenge was to get people involved in the planning process and the
success, or failure, of the Localism Bill will be linked to the enabling or blocking role local authorities could
play.
Trudi Elliot focused on the level of debate on the NPPF surmising that polarisation around the discussions was
not helpful and could lead to the planning system being undermined in the eyes of the public.
The panel agreed that any developer involvement in drafting Neighbourhood Development Orders would be a
significant advance on the status quo, whereby new schemes are done ‘to’ local people rather than ‘with’
them. There is support for the direction of plans and hope that communities will become more involved in the
planning system, however, there is a lack of clarity about how planning reforms will affect Britain’s
communities and what impact they will have on development.
Labour
‘Optimism over changes, but funding is crucial’
Colin Haylock, RTPI Senior Vice-President, chaired the Localism and Growth debate at the Tate Liverpool with a
panel including Trudi Elliott, Heidi Alexander MP and Local Dialogue Associate Partner, Scott Royal.
Trudi Elliott began, clarifying the position of the RTPI – which is keen to support greater engagement in the
planning process and are concerned about the ‘selling’ of planning permissions. Referring to a number of
successful RTPI case studies – available from its website – she highlighted that neighbourhood planning is not
new.
Reinforcing the RTPI’s position, Heidi Alexander, stated she had also seen successful examples of
neighbourhood planning. Whilst pointing out that she feels there is confusion in the NPPF, she also raised
concern that there is no mention of affordable housing in the NPPF.

2. Scott Royal followed by suggesting that, while there can be antagonism, not all communities are anti-
development – especially when they can see the advantages. He suggested that the New Homes Bonus could
aid this, but any tangible gains should be obvious to immediate communities. Welcoming the RTPI position on
increasing engagement in the planning process, Scott suggested resourcing and support would be required to
achieve this, not just financial but training communities too.
The overall mood amongst delegates was optimistic, however concern about funding cuts for planning services
was clear. There was also a call for leadership and the suggestion that politicians need to take a major role in
working with developers and communities.
Conservatives
‘New regime welcomed but transition and resourcing are key’
Unsurprisingly, the Conservative fringe event was the most popular of the three. A high-profile panel, including
RTPI President Richard Summers, Planning Minister Bob Neill MP, Cllr Gary Porter of the LGA, Trudi Elliott and
Local Dialogue Partner Jeremy Fieldsend.
Bob Neill opened by suggesting people saw the planning system as ‘adversarial’ and something that happens
‘to’ communities not ‘with’ them. This was brought about by a number of factors in the current system such as
predetermination and the now-defunct regionalism. The Localism Bill and the NPPF, said Mr Neill, were
designed to remove these obstacles, which alienate communities.
Cllr Gary Porter, representing the LGA, was largely in favour of the Government’s proposals, however, he was
unhappy with their timescales, which would rush important changes. Local authorities needed time to
implement the changes and create local plans.
Jeremy, in agreement with the panel, raised three key points:
1) The ‘other presumption’ in the system is that communities want to plan. In his experience, communities
only want to plan when they are exercised over particular proposals.
2) Secondly, the system needed a methodology to assess public sentiment – how did a petition weigh
against a letter, for example?
3) Finally, he welcomed the removal of predetermination rules as both good and bad - emphasising the
need for councillors to be fully informed in advance of committees.
Trudi Elliott raised two key issues. Firstly, she questioned the complexity of the system being proposed and the
ease of transition to it. Secondly, she suggested the NPPF was a ‘missed opportunity’, it should be a spatial
document, and its language needs tightening if it is to become workable.
From the floor, sentiment largely backed the Government’s aims for the planning system. However, recurring
themes included the need for sensible transition arrangements towards the new system, the resourcing of that
system and the need for appropriate strategic co-operation in place of regional tiers.
ABOUT LOCAL DIALOGUE
Local Dialogue is a specialist stakeholder communications agency with a successful track record of
advising on and implementing effective, meaningful and inclusive consultation and communications
programmes. We have an in-depth understanding of the workings and motivations of communities and
Local Authorities, as well as regional and national government.
Working as an integral member of the project team, we provide tactical advice and practical
communications/consultation support at all stages of the development process from Local Development
Frameworks to initial proposals, planning applications to public inquiries right through to construction
and launch.
London: Leeds:
Mark Brown Jeremy Fieldsend
T 020 7357 6606 T 0113 246 9243
E mark.brown@localdialogue.com E Jeremy.fieldsend@localdialogue.com