CgMs

WEB NEWS - 31 MAY 2005

Government Planning Supremos

Following the election there has been a minor reshuffle in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) with John Prescott remaining as the Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State. His special advisors are Joan Hammell and Mick Halloran.

David Miliband becomes Minister of Communities and Local Government and Yvette Cooper replaces Tom Hill as Minister of State for Housing and Planning. Phill Woolas is Minister of State for Local Government.

Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State are Jim Fitzpatrick and Baroness Andrews.

Permanent Secretary is Mavis McDonald.

At the Department of Culture, Media and Sport Tessa Jowell is Secretary of State while David Lammy is Under-Secretary of State responsible for arts, museums, libraries and heritage.

Protected Views In London

The Mayor has recently published draft supplementary planning guidance setting out his vision for the protection of strategic views in London. The following link will direct you to the document, which is subject to a 3 month consultation period, ending 15 th July 2005.

www.london.gov.uk/mayor/strategies/sds/spg-views.jsp

The SPG provides guidance on the policies in the London Plan with respect to the protection of strategic views and proposes to update the regional guidance in RPG3a (1991). It explains the London View Protection Framework promoted by the London Plan and how designated views and important landmarks within them are to be treated. It promotes a method of assessment that will assist with principles of good design, local urban design policies and the management of these views generally.

Following consultation of this guidance, the Mayor will seek authorisation to replace RPG3a and thus gain control of the Strategic Views Protection regime.

Under the current regime, RPG3a identifies 10 strategic views in London, eight of St Paul's Cathedral and two of the Palace of Westminster. Applications for new development are assessed against the affect they have on the two landmarks and is normally refused where it would exceed the 'development plane'. This is defined by a line between the strategic view point and, in the case of St Paul's Cathedral, the base of the dome.

The London Plan, and subsequent draft SPG identify 26 views and introduces 4 different view categories: London Panorama's, River Prospects, Townscape Views and Linear Views. New views include the view from the Mayor's office at City Hall to Tower Bridge.

The widths of viewing corridors and assessment areas (geometric protection) have been reduced from that in RPG3a. The current 'wider setting consultation area' is to be replaced with 'Linear assessment area', which is no longer, in all cases, directly related symmetrically to the dome of St Paul's Cathedral.

The SPG sets out Assessment Points for a number of ‘Viewing Locations' within each view. It is proposed that ‘Toolkits' will become available to assist applicants with the creation of the required ‘Accurate Visual Representations' (AVR's), which should be produced at the earliest possible development stage.

Clustering of Tall buildings may also be accepted within certain views. New tall buildings of exceptional architectural design quality will be encouraged, where it can be demonstrated positive enhancement of the townscape quality would ensue.

The consultation period ends at 5pm 15 July 2005.

For further information please contact Erica Mortimer
( erica.mortimer@cgms.co.uk ) or Jo Upton ( joanne.upton@cgms.co.uk )

New Flood Control

The government has announced proposals to ensure appropriate development in flood risk areas by giving ministers a new power to call-in schemes. Under the flood risk direction, applications for major development in flood risk areas which local authorities want to approve against Environment Agency advice would be referred to the Secretary of State for possible call-in.

This provision will be inserted in revised guidance on planning for flooding which will go out for consultation later in the year. The new version of PPS25 will “clarify the core sequential test that matches types of development to levels of flood risk”.

For further information please contact Malcolm Honour
( malcolm.honour@cgms.co.uk )

Social Inclusion Policy

A report published by the government is urging local authorities to use the planning system to support its social policy aims. The advice in the “diversity and equality in planning” best practice guide, appears to contradict a circular advising councils to scale back planning obligations to “necessary works” and affordable housing.

The guide states: “Equality and diversity are not minority or fringe issues. They need to be in the mainstream of planning practice to improve results on the ground. A focus on positive outcomes is likely to help raise the profile of planning as a service that can provide benefits for a wide range of people. Diversity issues are now material considerations in planning policies and decisions”.

For further information please contact Malcolm Honour
( malcolm.honour@cgms.co.uk )