Planner in on ground floor of big change

Jan 9 2008 by Iain Laing, The Journal

A SENIOR planning consultant at Blackett Hart & Pratt has qualified as one of the region’s few independent advisers in a new scheme to make the planning process more efficient.

Steve Barker has qualified with the Planning Advisory Service as a facilitator for Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs).

PPAs are being introduced as a way to manage large planning applications and remove obstacles to major schemes.

They are aimed at ensuring that milestones in planning proposals are identified and any problems are sorted out early, but are not a means of ensuring that planning permission is granted.

Developers and land owners submitting planning applications have to negotiate a PPA with the planning authority.

Steve’s role will be to act as an independent third party working with applicants and local planning authorities in connection with major schemes in the region.

As a representative of land owners and developers he will also act for clients in negotiating PPAs as part of their applications for planning permission. In other cases, he can also represent planning authorities.

Atlas, the independent advisory team for large applications, already provides a service to councils in London and the South-East on major proposals, such as the 2012 Olympics facilities and extension of Milton Keynes.

Mr Barker, head of planning at BHP’s Darlington office, said: “If you are a developer proposing a major scheme, a great deal of uncertainty surrounds your planning permission, how long it will take, who you need to communicate with and various other unknowns. The extension of PPAs nationwide means we now have a framework in place to make the process run more smoothly.

“It’s about efficient project management, good communications and co-operation to ensure each party has the information they need and understands each other’s expectations.”

PPAs will initially apply only to multi-million-pound schemes, for example developments of hundreds of homes.

He said: “The government would like to use them for smaller projects, but there is a fear that this could create more bureaucracy. It’s about getting a balance between having an efficient planning process and simply another layer of scrutiny.”

Since last year, BHP consultants have provided expertise to planning departments needing extra help. The team has worked with councils including Berwick, Tynedale, Sunderland, Teesdale, Richmond and North-East Lincolnshire.