David Taylor, Vice-Chair of the Society writes
You could be forgiven if you missed the publication of the Localism Bill just before Christmas, with its 425 pages, but it could potentially have far-reaching consequences for local planning and how new development is progressed.
The Bill is the main plank in the coalition’s plans to revamp the planning system and there are a number of aims, including
- Lift the burden of bureaucracy
- Empower communities to do things their way
- Increase local control of public finance
- Open up government to public scrutiny
- Strengthen accountability to local people
All very worthy, you might think, but what might it mean in practice? The government says it wants to change the relationship between citizens and the state: the cynics might say they actually want to further reduce the power of local councils and elected members, by giving local people more influence over what happens in their local neighbourhood. There are a number of proposals in the Bill that are important nationally, such as the intention to abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission, which has the power to deal with major schemes such as power stations and airports, and a proposal to abolish regional planning, except in London.
Of much greater significance for Herne Hill is the intention to introduce neighbourhood plans. These, once adopted, would become part of the statutory planning system, supported by the local council but developed and agreed by a ‘local neighbourhood forum’. But what would constitute such a forum? Outside London, there is a recognised system of parish councils, but in London, such forums might be based on wards or areas decided by local people. These forums would have the powers to develop neighbourhood plans, which would have to be agreed by local referendum, after an independent examination by an inspector appointed by the local authority. These plans can promote more development but not less than the existing local plan so it can perhaps be seen as an attempt to encourage developers against the threat of local opposition. Indeed, the government’s Chief Planner has been quoted as saying the Bill is ‘not a Nimby’s charter’. This may not matter so much in SE24, where there are few development sites but it could be a recipe for conflict in outer areas of London and more rural areas where local people generally oppose much new house building.
How might a neighbourhood forum operate in SE24? The area is administered by two local authorities and two local organisations, the Herne Hill Society and the Herne Hill Forum, already exist. These have different roles and functions but there is some overlap and synergy. Could these two organisations and two local authorities agree on the basis for a local neighbourhood forum? The Dulwich Community Council also covers the Southwark part of Herne Hill and how would the existing ward councillors and planning officers feel about part of their powers and roles being taken by a group of possibly self-selecting local people? The Society and Forum do have elections for their officers but from a small electorate. There would also be a need for local people to spend a lot of time on this and, although the local authorities would be required to help develop and support a forum, do many local people have the skills and time? The Government has announced plans to appoint outside experts to help local communities to develop expertise to get involved in this process. It is important to remember that the proposal to set up neighbourhood forums is not mandatory and will only happen if a local community or the authority wants it to take place.
Civic Voice, the body set up to replace the Civic Trust, has welcomed the proposals overall but has a number of concerns about the details. It stresses that there needs to be independent support advice and facilitation to enable communities to get engaged with the process and says it’s important that authorities work closely on cross-boundary issue. This is clearly important for those living in SE24. It welcomes the proposals for stronger enforcement powers, a topic the Society feels strongly about, as we have been quite involved in a number of enforcement cases in recent years. Civic Voice would like the Bill to have a community right of appeal which would mean that where a local authority gives permission for something which is against what is in the local plan, those opposed to the proposal would be able to appeal to an independent inspector. Local authorities will, we are sure, not want this included.
There is much more in the Bill, including a Community Right to Buy, where a local community would have to right to try to acquire certain local assets, and a proposal to introduce Neighbourhood Development Orders, whereby certain forms of development would not need individual planning permission, if they were supported by the local community and were not contrary to the local plan. Can we envisage a local group working with the owners of the former petrol station site to produce a scheme which might meet local aspirations more closely than the last proposal (which was opposed by the Society and turned down by the Council)?
The Bill may take over a year to become law. There are still many aspects where there is insufficient detail to fully gauge the impact on our area but the Society will be encouraging local councillors and others to make sure the implications of the Bill are made clear.
David Taylor coordinates the Society’s planning group, and would welcome by email any comments on the proposals in the Bill, and how it might affect Herne Hill.
To learn more, go to the websites of the Department of Communities and Local Government and Civic Voice
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