The Raynsford Review of Planning

The Raynsford Review of Planning has been 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.

It will be informed by a task force chaired by former planning minister Nick Raynsford.

Evidence will be collected over an 18-month period (beginning in late June 2017) and a final report published in late autumn 2018.

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 will work with us throughout the review to represent the values of stakeholder groups and ensure that the process remains focused and independent. 

Get involved

The review team is seeking a final round of feedback on the Interim Report's nine propositions by Monday 16th July. Please email [email protected] with your responses, clearly identifying your details. 

If you would like to hear updates about the Raynsford Review or provide feedback on our interim report, 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.

Contact

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

Interim report

• The Raynsford Review of Planning: Interim Report

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

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