Challenge Yvette
by Peter Bradwell
On the one hand, there are incentives for local authorities to speedily process applications within eight weeks and, now, to deliver housing targets. On the other is the demand that authorities put more effort into community engagement - a clumsy way of saying that people's vision for their area should be central to the plan-making process.
The logic is that if planners 'front load' consultation, these aren't necessarily mutually exclusive aims - but it seems they can feel so to resource-strapped authorities who see cash incentives for one and rather more rhetorical encouragement for the other.
I wonder if the logical conclusion to the speedy planning agenda isn't a grand, modified version of Challenge Anneka. After all, she never missed a deadline. And there was never a NIMBY in sight. People could harmonise and compromise for the BBC, but for some reason find it a lot harder for the DCLG and vast housing targets. Why the buy-in gap?!
Paul Skidmore
If you've not already, you should go and talk to Jeff Bishop (http://www.bdor.co.uk/jeff.htm). I shared a platform with him this time last year (www.creatingexcellence.org.uk/uploads/Come-to-the-Table-Flyer.pdf) and he was very good on the business case for front-loading community engagement.
Jack Stilgoe
It shouldn't happen to Yvette