Mixed reaction to proposed economic planning guidance

Reaction to the Government's draft Planning Policy Statement (PPS) on economic development is almost equally divided on whether the proposed text achieves the right balance in terms of addressing economic, social and environmental considerations, it has emerged.

That outcome has been highlighted in a document published by Communities and Local Government which summarises the responses to its earlier consultation exercise on a draft PPS 4.

The summary makes it clear that consultees were concerned that the draft document implied competition between environmental, social and economic aspects which could be out of sympathy with the aims of spatial planning.

More positively, the report clearly showed that there was backing for out-of-centre office development provided it was part of an existing "sustainable" business cluster and well served by public transport.

It also showed that business respondents felt the proposals did not go far enough in terms of promoting economic development.

Critically, a majority of respondees disagreed with the proposal to use the housing market methodology as a proxy for determining economic markets.

However, the summary indicated that a majority of respondees favoured the Government's proposed less prescriptive approach to non-residential car-parking and endorsed the need for clear guidance on a "sequential" approach to business location.

Read the Consultation on PPS 4 document

Roger Milne

14 August 2008