Nick Appleyard 17 January 2013

XXX1

Concern has been raised that a fresh drive to reduce planning guidance could isolate council officers working in planning and technical services departments.

Lord Taylor's review of planning practise guidance, published by the DCLG on December 21, called for advice to be streamlined and made simpler. The Liberal Democrat peer’s call follows recent reforms made to the national planning policy framework, which was reduced from more than 1,000 pages to just 52.

Documents aligned for the chop in the Taylor Review include:

  • Good practice guidelines: delivering travel plans through the planning process (2009) and Guidance on transport assessments (2007), which the peer said should be scrapped and replaced with new 'streamlined' guidance.
  • DfT circular 02/2007planning and the strategic road network, which was dubbed out of date and should be cancelled.
  • Manual for streets (2007), which was described as 'some good advice but no needed in this format'. Lord Taylor suggested this document should be reviewed and broken down into planning advice and other guidance.

The Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) has warned ministers they must ensure all new guidance continues to provide integration across different sectors – notably planning and engineering.

Acknowledging the need for 'simpler, more accessible' guidance, CIHT chief executive Sue Percy raised concerns about some advice, which could be lost.

She told Surveyor: 'There are concerns on the impact of reducing such a wide range of guidance into a few core documents. Questions remain regarding what will happen to many of the legacy documents that do provide integration across the sector.

'The appendix outlines the potential redrafting of manual for streets. CIHT believes that manual for streets 1 and 2 are documents that provide guidance for planners, engineers and other professionals from across the built environment and any redrafting must continue to provide this cross sector support.

'CIHT believes that it is essential that the links between important elements of the PPGs [planning practise guidance] are picked up in the new guidance and that the integration of planning and transport is covered. CIHT believe that we must ensure that we do not revert back to planning for cars in the way we did in the 20th century.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Family Support Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 6 - £27,269 - £30,060 (Pay award pending)
Do you have a real passion for helping families to make positive changes for themselves and their children? This might be the right role for you!   WH Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Clerical Officer Receptionist

Durham County Council
Grade 3 £24,404 - £25,183 Pro Rata to hours worked Pay award pending
WHAT IS INVOLVED? We are looking to appoint a part time Clerical officer/Receptionist within Business Services to provide a professional, effective a Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Administration Assistant

Durham County Council
£25,584 - £27,711 pro rata
Administration Assistant Grade 5    £25,584 - £27,711 pro rata Temporary – required from 1st October 2025 until 31 December 2025 37 hours per week, Te Consett
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Support Assistant

Durham County Council
£24,027 pro rata
Support Assistant Grade 1 £24,027 pro rata Temporary – required from 1st October 2025 until 31st October 2026 Part Time, 32.5 hours Mon - Fri 9am -4pm Consett
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lecturer in Foundation Learning -Maths, English and Digital

Durham County Council
Grade 9 £34,314 - £37,938 pro rata for part-time term time working PAY AWARD PENDING
The DurhamLearn Foundation Learning programme area delivers Digital Skills, English and Maths Functional Skills.   An opportunity has arisen for a Lec Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner