News Release : 16 February 2004

CONFUSING GUIDANCE ON TOWN CENTRES

THE SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY’S REGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE HAS criticised new Government advice on town centres as confusing. This comment follows the publication of the Draft Planning Policy Statement 6 (PPS6) by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

The Regional Planning Committee believes that, in its current form, PPS6 creates overlap between the role of the regional planning bodies and local planning authorities. The Draft is too prescriptive and needs considerable review.

The following key issues need to be considered by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister:

• Regional planning bodies should only identify a broad strategy for growth in the main regional and sub-regional centres, instead of becoming immersed in detail as the guidance suggests;
• Local planning authorities should undertake assessments of the capacity of existing centres to accommodate more development to a common regional methodology;
• The guidance needs to link retail better with other uses to achieve a good mix in centres;
• Regional planning bodies and other organisations would require a significant number of new resources if the draft guidance remains unchanged.

Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the South East England Regional Assembly’s Regional Planning Committee: “The existing Planning Policy Statement 6 has been very effective at focusing development of town centres and promoting urban renaissance. The new guidance is less satisfactory and ministers need to clarify the roles of regional planning bodies and local planning authorities. The Draft should also be less prescriptive and allow more scope for regional and local variation. ”

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. For further comments by the Regional Planning Committee, please see the Planning Committee document in the meetings section
2. Please see link to Planning Policy Statement 6 on the Office of Deputy Prime Minister website
3. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
4. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
5. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007