ONE task at this time of year is selecting the reading material we plan to take on holiday.

I can say with some confidence that the new National Planning Policy Framework is unlikely to be read on many of Europe’s beaches.

But part of the aim in producing this document is that at least you would have a chance of fitting it in your suitcase, as ministers try to replace more than 1,000 pages of planning policy with just 50.

It’s crucial to get this right, as we badly need to see development moving again in the North East. Take away a handful of public sector schemes – unlikely to be repeated in the near future – and there are worryingly few cranes on our skyline.

Not only will this create future gaps in the type of commercial property and housing we need, it also leaves our struggling construction industry scratching around for work.

Most in the development sector would say that finance remains the biggest block.

But the planning process is a close second and by adding a large element of risk and delay into the development process, it makes finance even harder to come by.

The new framework aims to overcome that with its presumption in favour of sustainable development, which tells planners the default answer to applications should be yes.

Planning minister Greg Clark is also drawing up a policy to ensure decisions are taken within 12 months of an application being submitted.

And the Government is backing this with financial incentives for councils to support development, through the New Homes Bonus, Renewable Energy Bonus and a plan to let councils keep business rates.

All this seems positive – but there are potential pitfalls. In a determined effort to get away from central planning, there is almost no geographical element to policy at all. This is a big blind spot when other ministers are repeating the mantra of ‘re-balancing the economy’.

We also have concerns that the Government’s expectation that local authorities will co-operate effectively on thorny issues like the location of waste facilities or energy infrastructure is overly optimistic.

Meanwhile, ministers have been hinting to other audiences that communities will have power to restrict development in their area – so we need to know which is the true picture.

Let’s hope they address these and that this bit of summer reading comes with a happy ending for businesses.

James Ramsbotham is chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce