A rather 'lopsided' post don't you think Thomas ?. Anyone would think, judging by your post, that's the planning regime is going to become an open invite for developers to do whatever they please...I'm rather cynical about the various facets of the emerging Localism Bill, but certainly not in the same way that you appear to be.In respect of your specific points :1) a persumption in favour of development - what's wrong with that ?. Why should applicants spend thousands of pounds submitting planning applications which aren't always given proper consideration by LPA's ? (because the resources aren't available to LPA's). To give you a 'live' example, one of the many applications I submit is currently under 3 weeks away from the date it should be determined. The Case Officer hasn't even looked at it yet (in their own words). Basically an admin officer will have sent out the computer generated letters to third parties inviting them to make representations, then passed the file to the planning officer, who'll have put it on a shelf in chronological order, to look at probably afew days before the statutory decision date, because in the meantime the officer is busy with the applications who have an earlier statutory decision date. Is it likely therefore that every decision made by the LPA is a properly considered, fully informed judgement ?. At least if there's a presumption in favour of development the onus is more on the LPA to properly assess proposals to be able to demonstrate what's wrong with them.2) possible relaxation of controls over change of use of vacant offices into residential - firstly it's only a possible change (results of review due in Dec 2011), and secondly even if it is introduced there will be an detailed set of criteria and tolerances/circumstances which any such change of use will have to satisfy...it won't be a case of anyone with an empty office building can convert it to 10 flats just like that.3) 'Empowering local communities' - I've never hidden my disdain for this whole community empowerment notion, because in reality it's just hollow vote-winning talk. People talk excitely about producing their own development plans etc, but fail to realise such plans must be in general conformity with national/regional/local planning policies and guidance (which usually many people don't agree with). I still firmly believe (based on my own experiences over the years) that all that will happen is the rich/affluent members of the community will be the ones that have the biggest influence, and thus I am not convinced that any such neighbourhood plans will necessarily be representative of the wishes/desires/needs of the whole community. So in a way we appear to have the same view on this, it's just that you refer to the involvement of big businesses, whereas I refer to the involvement of the rich/affluent members of the community.
Adam Beamish ● 5424d