An introduction to the planning system

This course is intended to provide administrators and support staff with an understanding of the planning system to enable them to appreciate the wider context within which they are working.

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• Why you should attend
• Who should attend?
• Benefits of attending
• Programme
• Speakers
• Quotes from past delegates...
• Outsourcing and event management service

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Why you should attend

This workshop is intended to provide elected members, administrators and support staff with an understanding of the planning system to enable them to appreciate the wider context within which they are working. The course will include changes to the planning system by the Coalition Government including the abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies.

Delegates will understand the role of development management and the way decisions on individual planning applications are made either by the planning committee or by the officers under delegated powers. The important role of the enforcement system and its importance in maintaining public confidence will be covered together with the operation of the appeals system against the refusal of planning permission and against enforcement notices served by the council.

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Who should attend?

• Elected members
• Administrators
• Planning support staff
• Any staff requiring an introduction to the English Planning System

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Benefits of attending

This course will enable you to have an understanding of:

• The changes being made to the planning system in England by the Coalition Government
• Planning policy and how it is prepared at national, regional and local levels
• The importance of planning policy when making decisions on individual planning applications
• The development management or control process
• The way decisions on individual planning applications are made including the role of the planning committee and the officers delegated powers
• The role of the planning enforcement system
• The appeals system and how it operates

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Programme

9.00 Registration and coffee

9.30 The English Planning System

• The purpose of the planning system
• Roles of key players and relationships
• National planning policy

10.00 Development planning basics

• PPS1 and other important PPGs and PPSs
• Regional Spatial Strategies, including The London Plan
• The new hierarchy of plans
• Local Development Frameworks
• Links with Community Strategies

11.00 Coffee and networking

11.20 Development management basics

• Definitions of ‘development’ and ‘permitted development’
• Pre-application advice and charging for it
• The national planning application form and check lists
• Design advice
• Design and Access Statements
• Changes of use and the Use Classes Order
• Listed buildings and conservation areas

1.00 Lunch

2.00 Making a decision

• How applications are decided
• The role of the development plan
• Material considerations and non-material considerations
• Officer’s recommendations and delegation Agreements
• Site visits
• Conditions and reasons for refusal
• Planning obligations

2.45 What happens next?

• Appeals and inquiries
• Decision letters
• Awards of costs
• Other routes for complaint
• Third party rights of appeal

3.25 Tea

3.45 Compulsory Purchase and Crown Immunity

3.50 Enforcement

• The role of enforcement in the English Planning System
• Discretion and expedience
• Planning and Compensation Act 1991
• The Enforcement Notice
• Breach of Condition Notices, Planning Contravention Notices
• Certificates of Lawful Development, injunctions, rights of entry, etc.

4.30 Questions and discussion

4.45 Close

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Speakers

Michael Haslam, a Chartered Town Planner, joined the London Borough of Bexley where he became Chief Assistant Town Planner. In 1974 he was appointed Chief Planning Officer to the South Norfolk Council, a post he held until April 2003 when he set up his planning and development consultancy, Michael Haslam Associates Ltd. He has spoken and lectured at many conferences and training events and published articles in the technical and national press. He was President of the Royal Town Planning Institute in 2002 and was appointed OBE in the June 2003 Birthday Honours list for services to the planning industry. He is the Chairman of the English Rural Housing Association.

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Quotes from past delegates...

'Very good, information was delivered concisely and knowledgeably, has certainly improved my overall grasp of the

system"

“Excellent and very informative”

“Well tailored and delivered”

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Outsourcing and event management service

Kaplan Hawksmere has over 10 years experience in running outsourced and managed training contracts both in the private and public sectors. Our highly skilled team will work with you to effectively manage your events, conferences and training programmes to maximise delegate numbers and revenue and to deliver significant benefits including:

• Financial returns – possible increased revenues or cost reductions
• Risk reduction
• High delivery standards and customer satisfaction
• Flexibility to work with your own teams or independently
• Greater market exposure
• Low cost, exceptional responsive market research

If you would like any further information on this service please contact Neil Vincent on 020 7960 5677 or e-mail neil.vincent@kaplan.co.uk

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