Virtual planning meetings should continue in the long-term

The London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee has written to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government outlining its findings into local planning changes as a result of COVID-19.



The Committee found that planning departments have responded to the crisis, but that they need to be appropriately resourced and recognised for the value they add in bringing jobs and benefits to the wider economy.

Virtual meetings are accessible by all online and they take up less of people’s time. So changes, such as this, that have been brought about by the pandemic, should continue in the long-term, in order to make planning more accessible.

Three-dimensional modelling of potential developments also has benefits, as planning decision makers and local residents can understand the potential impact and benefits of a development without the need to visit a site.

The letter makes a number of recommendations:

• Local planning committees should continue to offer virtual broadcasts of meetings, even when they return to meet physically. However, care and consideration need to be taken to not exclude those who do not have access to digital technology.
• The Government should ensure that local planning authorities are appropriately resourced to facilitate ambitious and highquality property development.
• The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) should continue to provide funding for digital innovation in local planning authorities, potentially through the Local Digital Fund.
• The MHCLG should also reconsider any further expansion of Permitted Development Rights, but if the scheme is to continue there must be a set of mandatory standards, in terms of space and quality.
  

Andrew Boff AM, Chairman of the Planning and Regeneration Committee, said:

“The planning process has gone through radical change and there have been improvements to accessibility, when it comes to virtual planning meetings, but the Planning and Regeneration Committee would like to see these changes become longer term.



“People who do not have digital access must not be left behind when it comes to the planning process, as developments have such a major impact on local areas and communities. The utmost care and consideration need to be taken by planning authorities to not exclude certain groups of people. Everyone should be able to get involved and have their say and the Government has a role in making this happen.



“The Government needs to ensure that planning authorities have the appropriate resources to carry out the important work that they do. London needs high-quality and ambitious development and the work of planning authorities should not be stymied in any way.”