Majority of planners support effective strategic planning

A report commissioned by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has found that four in five planners want to see strategic planning mandated by the government.

The research itself was undertaken by the Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments at the University of the West of England (UWE), together with Catriona Riddell Associates and Richard Wood Associates.

Their research sought to articulate a clear rationale for strategic spatial planning, provide evidence on current approaches to strategic planning practice and present findings in respect of potential reforms necessary.

The RTPI defines 'strategic planning' as "the co-ordination of activity across wide geographical areas like city-regions, and across multiple sectors including housing, transport, health and the environment".

Researchers found that since 2010, there has been a lack of a mandatory requirement for a nationwide approach to strategic planning in England, consequently parts of the country do not have any strategic planning activity.

A survey for the purposes of this research found that:

• 40% of local authority planners said they did not work in an area with statutory strategic planning; and
• 25% reported no non-statutory strategic planning activity in their area. 

This has led to a loss of technical knowledge and experience in strategic planning.

The research made 11 key findings:

• strategic planning as currently practised is highly fragmented, resulting in sub-optimal outcomes;
• there is a clear unmet need for a more effective approach to strategic planning between the national and local levels;
• strategic planning should be mandated by government and implemented across England;
• strategic planning should be embodied in a statutory document, but not be ‘a big local plan’;
• strategic planning should focus clearly on long-term vision and key cross-boundary issues - there should be sufficient flexibility to address local needs and allow innovation;
• strategic planning should provide a sustainable growth-led framework for prioritising and coordinating investment in infrastructure;
• strategic planning should have a sub-regional focus and seek to validate existing structures and processes where possible;
• strategic planning should be underpinned by clear and comprehensive governance arrangements within a majority voting structure, with direct organisational or individual accountability;
• there is a role for a national spatial framework within which strategic plans can be prepared;
• the testing of strategic plans needs to be reframed to be proportionate and focused on the long term;
• there is a need to rebuild the culture, capability and capacity of strategic planning.

Researchers added that the government’s aims for universal coverage of strategic plans by 2029 will need to be supported by a new generation of strategic planners.

RTPI Chief Executive, Victoria Hills, commented that it was: “really rewarding to witness our members producing such high-quality research at a time when we know the government is attempting to change the system through the [National Planning Policy Framework]”.

For more information, see the report:

• Strategic Planning in England - Current Practice and Future Directions.