The Raynsford Review of Planning

Planning 2020, the final report of the Raynsford Review of Planning, was published in November 2018. To read the report click here.

The Raynsford Review of Planning was set up to identify how the government can reform the English planning system to make it fairer, better resourced and capable of producing quality outcomes, while still encouraging the production of new homes.

The review is informed by a task force chaired by former housing and planning minister Nick Raynsford.

Aims

England is still becoming acquainted with a heavily deregulated planning system. Since 2010, when planning legislation was first relaxed to accommodate housing growth, there have been complaints from both the private and public sector that the system is unsustainable.

The Raynsford Review seeks to provide practical and comprehensive policy guidance to overcome these issues in a way that is mutually beneficial to all stakeholders.

We have set three aims for the project:

• Engage constructively with politicians and council officers, communities, housing providers, developers, consultants and academics — all those interested in the built environment — about how we can deliver better placemaking through a fairer and more effective planning system.
• Set out a positive agenda following the outcomes of the general election and planning hiatus.
• Set out a new vision for planning in England and rebuild trust in the planning process by communicating with the public as well as professionals.

The review task force

Our core task force is made up of academics, politicians, policy makers and consultants. These ten members work with us throughout the review to represent the values of stakeholder groups and ensure that the process remains focused and independent. 

Get involved

We are no longer collecting public evidence for the Raynsford Review of Planning.

If you would like to hear updates about the Raynsford Review, please enter your details on our mailing list below.

You can also help support the Raynsford Review by becoming a TCPA member. Read about the benefits of joining us here.

Next steps

The Raynsford Review of Planning clearly demonstrates that the planning system in England is failing. The government must act.

We will be reporting on the progress of government's engagement with the review in an upcoming paper. To receive a copy of this once it is released, sign up below.

Final report

• The Raynsford Review of Planning: Final Report, November 2018
• The Raynsford Review of Planning: Executive Summary, November 2018

Interim report

• The Raynsford Review of Planning: Interim Report, May 2018

Subsequent reports 

• A Councillors' Guide to Implementing the Raynsford Review of Planning in England, September 2019

Review research outputs

• Background Paper 1: Creating a blueprint for a new planning system in England
• Background Paper 2: The rise and fall of town planning
• Provocation Paper 1: Do we have a plan-led system?
• Provocation Paper 2: People and planning
• Provocation Paper 3: Do we need a betterment tax?

Articles of interest

• Nick Raynsford, 'Going back to first principles', Town & Country Planning August 2017
• Hugh Ellis, 'English planning: a Kobayashi Maru kind of problem?, Town & Country Planning October 2017
• Hugh Ellis, 'Planning in crisis?, Town & Country Planning, May-June 2018

If you wish to contact the Review secretariat please email [email protected] 

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