UK streamlined planning offers opportunities for property developers and land owners, agents believe

 
The Local Growth White Paper has far reaching implications for landowners and developers in rural communities across the UK, according to Smiths Gore.
 
The land agents and rural surveyors point out that sustainable development in local communities will be encouraged and financial incentives are being offered.
 
Where there has previously been resistance to planning projects, NIMBYS are now being persuaded of the significant financial advantages being offered in the form of both the New Homes Bonus and the Business Increase Bonus.
 
In addition to the financial incentives, the White Paper also examines how buy-in from local communities can be achieved through greater participation and control in plan making. The introduction of Neighbourhood Plans will provide a vehicle for local communities to shape development in their areas but the plans must reflect the overall national presumption in favour of sustainable development.
 
‘Previously we have had to work extremely hard to promote development in some of the most protected parts of the country but we are now starting to see a resurgence of positive local interest in development. Local communities are beginning to wake up to the possibilities and are looking at ways in which they can influence more closely what gets built in their communities,’ said Lee Scott of Smiths Gore’s planning team.
 
‘I think this is exciting for many of them. This means that we are seeing opportunities that we would never have hoped for under the old planner knows best system,’ he added.
 
In one Sussex village, the Smiths Gore planning team has been working with the landowner, Parish Council and other community groups to deliver a comprehensive plan for the long term development of their village.
 
‘What is surprising is that this is happening in a village where, until recently, people were putting anti-development posters in their front windows. Now, led by the Parish Council, villagers are warming to the idea that a small amount of development can help secure facilities and economic activity that will keep their village active, vital and sustainable,’ explained Scott.
 
He believes that the Local Growth White Paper is not about development cutting across huge swathes of the countryside, but taking a considered and long term strategic view of development that will rebalance the power of the economy.
 
‘We are working with a number of landowners who have started to open a dialogue directly with communities and we have been surprised how receptive people are to development opportunities provided it is high quality, well considered and proportionate, in other words organic,’ explained Scott