Closer collaboration between councils, health bodies and businesses could ‘reinvigorate strategic planning’ a new report has argued.
The report, from Catriona Riddell Associates, warns that the Government’s planning reforms will remove the duty to co-operate so district and county councils will no longer be encouraged to work together on planning and infrastructure.
The report, commissioned by the County Councils Network (CCN), argues the creation of strategic planning advisory bodies in all areas could fill this ‘strategic planning void’.
Catriona Riddell, director of Catriona Riddell Associates, said: ‘Strategic planning is about more than just sorting out housing numbers or delivering cross-boundary infrastructure. If it is to do an effective job, it needs to provide a mechanism for integrating all the different components that support ‘good’ growth and a clear framework for investment in places.
’The proposals in this report would fill a large void in the current planning system and in the government’s proposed planning reforms, offering an integrated solution to supporting sustainable development across England.’
Cllr David Williams, chairman of the CCN, added: ‘We will take these recommendations on board as we respond to the government’s planning proposals but what is clear that if we want to move to an ‘infrastructure first’ approach to housing, then we need the means to bring all key local stakeholders round the table.’
