Power to the nimbys!
Discussion
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/...
The Government's Localism Bill is due this week. One of the main elements being giving 'neighbourhoods' planning powers.
The author of the above opinion says "Who can seriously be against taking power away from the bureaucrats, and giving it to those who have to deal personally with the consequences of these decisions?"
Well, me for one. Have they not realised that everyone is a nimby? "No new houses anywhere near us thanks" - or that it would be massively open to corruption? From developers getting involved with residents, down to "we don't like the odd people that live there, stuff them, but Mr Jones is a nice chap he can have his two storey extension".
What we'll probably end up with is no new housing and a load of eyesore extensions to existing properties (although the gov't seem to also be proposing some sort of Council Tax bribe to encourage new houses). I'm guessing most people aren't interested in planning unless something directly affects them, so the process will most likely be hijacked by the neighbourhood busybodies and other people's self-interest.
Yes, the current planning system is quite strict, but it works because it is impartial and professional, and it has been there forever. Whilst the full details of this aren't yet clear it seems to me a bit too much of a swing from bureaucracy to chaos! An interesting idea not very well thought thorough.
The Government's Localism Bill is due this week. One of the main elements being giving 'neighbourhoods' planning powers.
The author of the above opinion says "Who can seriously be against taking power away from the bureaucrats, and giving it to those who have to deal personally with the consequences of these decisions?"
Well, me for one. Have they not realised that everyone is a nimby? "No new houses anywhere near us thanks" - or that it would be massively open to corruption? From developers getting involved with residents, down to "we don't like the odd people that live there, stuff them, but Mr Jones is a nice chap he can have his two storey extension".
What we'll probably end up with is no new housing and a load of eyesore extensions to existing properties (although the gov't seem to also be proposing some sort of Council Tax bribe to encourage new houses). I'm guessing most people aren't interested in planning unless something directly affects them, so the process will most likely be hijacked by the neighbourhood busybodies and other people's self-interest.
Yes, the current planning system is quite strict, but it works because it is impartial and professional, and it has been there forever. Whilst the full details of this aren't yet clear it seems to me a bit too much of a swing from bureaucracy to chaos! An interesting idea not very well thought thorough.
When I first read this thread, my immediate reaction was: "Oh Christ, have they not learned the lessons of what a pigs ear the locals have made of speed limit setting since they devolved it to local authorities?" Then I read the article.
Hmmmm. It depends on how its done. When you read the article, it is not particularly detailed and you could think "what a good idea" or "what a load of nonsense" depending on your own views/ prejudices.
If we are talking about home owners making improvements and alterations to their own properties, there are quite a few things you can already do anyway without planning permission (like putting sheds in the garden, fences up to 2m high, even build a garage provided it does not exceed a certain size - all of that lot restricted for listed buildings and conservation areas, but thats another matter that I'll come back to). The majority of home extensions are effectivly rubber-stamped by the planning authorities anyway, so taking those out of the planning process will save you money and help the council sack a few more staff. No problem there except if you happen to be a Planning Officer, of course .....
It would not, however, be possible to do without Building Regulations approval. These are the guys who carry out the inspections to make sure that the drains have been laid correctly. the oversite concrete is right, the wall construction complies with current requirements on energy conservation, the roof isn't going to bring the house down with its weight etc etc. All you have to do is give them a little more power (eg "No you can't use that sort of brick because its out of keeping with the area" or "no, you can't put in double glazing because you're in a conservation area") and, in truth, nothing much will change. Except for all those redundant Planning Officers
"They will have considerable power to propose new community facilities such as schools. They can "propose" what they bloody well like but, unless they're willing to pay for it either directly or via increases in local taxes, the situation will be no different under these proposals than they are now. Except that, perhaps, another bunch of NIMBYs can oppose the new school proposals.
I have this unpleasant feeling that all this is a load of window dressing that will make very very little difference indeed to what actually goes on in the real world. Except for all those redundant Planning Officers
Hmmmm. It depends on how its done. When you read the article, it is not particularly detailed and you could think "what a good idea" or "what a load of nonsense" depending on your own views/ prejudices.
If we are talking about home owners making improvements and alterations to their own properties, there are quite a few things you can already do anyway without planning permission (like putting sheds in the garden, fences up to 2m high, even build a garage provided it does not exceed a certain size - all of that lot restricted for listed buildings and conservation areas, but thats another matter that I'll come back to). The majority of home extensions are effectivly rubber-stamped by the planning authorities anyway, so taking those out of the planning process will save you money and help the council sack a few more staff. No problem there except if you happen to be a Planning Officer, of course .....
It would not, however, be possible to do without Building Regulations approval. These are the guys who carry out the inspections to make sure that the drains have been laid correctly. the oversite concrete is right, the wall construction complies with current requirements on energy conservation, the roof isn't going to bring the house down with its weight etc etc. All you have to do is give them a little more power (eg "No you can't use that sort of brick because its out of keeping with the area" or "no, you can't put in double glazing because you're in a conservation area") and, in truth, nothing much will change. Except for all those redundant Planning Officers
article said:
Of course, local communities will still have to abide by national planning laws and building regulations, and will not be able to veto large-scale infrastructure projects, such as high-speed rail lines or new nuclear power stations
So that's that covered then. Somebody can still come along and decide to build a nuclear power station in your back yard and there's sod all you can do about it.article said:
But they will have considerable power to decide ....... and to vote down or put forward new developments, or propose new community facilities such as schools.
When you read this its close to laughable. "They will have considerable power to vote down developments" There might be a lot of NIMBYs out there who might just naively think that this will mean the end of new housing in their areas, but there are also usually an equivalent number of people who want those houses built. Light blue touchpaper and stand well back "They will have considerable power to propose new community facilities such as schools. They can "propose" what they bloody well like but, unless they're willing to pay for it either directly or via increases in local taxes, the situation will be no different under these proposals than they are now. Except that, perhaps, another bunch of NIMBYs can oppose the new school proposals.
I have this unpleasant feeling that all this is a load of window dressing that will make very very little difference indeed to what actually goes on in the real world. Except for all those redundant Planning Officers
If you want to see a system in practice, whereby minor developments are essentially given a rubber stamp check out the NSW Housing Code. It's Australian, but we are based on the UK system so it is essentially the same (I have worked in both systems)
http://housingcode.planning.nsw.gov.au
10 day approval, either by council or a private certifier, no neighbour objections, predetermined standards, comply with them and away you go.
I don't think local groups should have any real power to veto a development that is compliant. Nothing will happen at all.
http://housingcode.planning.nsw.gov.au
10 day approval, either by council or a private certifier, no neighbour objections, predetermined standards, comply with them and away you go.
I don't think local groups should have any real power to veto a development that is compliant. Nothing will happen at all.
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