The public distrust developers and councils, new research finds
There is a significant trust deficit facing UK developers and councils which needs a new approach to house building for the issues to be resolved, it is claimed.
Public trust in the UK planning system is almost non-existent, according to a survey done by developer Grosvenor Britain & Ireland. The firm has set out how it wants to address the situation.
The research found that just 2% of the public trust developers and only 7% trust local authorities when it comes to planning for large scale developments.
The research also unpicks the drivers of this lack of trust. The biggest being the perception that developers only care about making or saving money, with 75% of respondents identifying this as a reason for their lack of trust.
‘With opposition to development and regeneration increasing, the number of new homes being built in the UK continues to fall behind need,’ said Craig McWilliam, chief executive officer of Grosvenor Britain & Ireland.
‘These findings are a significant wake up call to all involved in large scale development, the public doesn’t trust developers or local authorities to act in their best interests. Together with others we must accept our responsibility, act to rebuild trust and back local government leaders shaping developments for the communities they serve,’ he added.
The house builder believes that more homes and new spaces can be successfully delivered if trust is rebuilt but it requires changes in behaviour on the part of private and public sector leaders.
It has made a series of commitments to be implement across its business that address the major findings of the research and drivers of distrust. These include making it easier for the public to weigh the value and costs created by a development.
As an experiment this year the firm will detail in plain English the anticipated social and environmental benefit created for a community locally and more widely, alongside the expected financial risks and returns to the company of an upcoming development.
It also wants increased transparency in the consultation, decision making and design process for development by enabling scrutiny from an independent and objective commentator as a large scale development is designed and delivered.
And there is a pledge to help communities better understand how to get involved and influence developments by developing a gold standard for consultation against which the business can be held accountable by councils and local communities.
It is clear that developers must work harder to engage with both communities and local authorities at an early stage in the planning process, according to the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
‘It’s disappointing that this new research from Grosvenor appears to show that public trust in planning is low; thankfully this is not the experience of our professional members. For the planning system to work effectively, it is essential that planning departments are well-resourced to support proactive community involvement in planning consultation, decision-making and design. This works two ways; developers need to up their game on early engagement with communities and local authorities,’ said RTPI chief executive Victoria Hills.
‘However, we should be wary of placing additional burdens on local authorities who, as a result of austerity, have reduced their net expenditure on planning by 42% since 2009/2010,’ she explained, adding that recent research from the RTPI found that these swingeing cuts have eroded planning’s ability to serve the public interest and to do their work effectively, planners must be adequately resourced and supported.
