The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill published yesterday could make it easier for leisure schemes to get off the ground.
The Bill is designed to speed up the planning process and remove some of the hurdles that the current system places in front of new development. It also aims to better engage the community in the planning process.
It proposes the introduction of Local Development Frameworks to replace the current system of Unitary Development Plans. Many local authorities have failed to produce plans and many are out of date.
Brigid Simmonds, the chief executive of Business in Sport and Leisure, welcomed the move. Simmonds said: "At the moment, if something is not in the plan, you are not allowed to develop it and too few sites are designated for leisure use."
Simminds said that under the UDPs, sites were often zoned for light industrial development, which is often defined as a scheme which offers employment use. However, many local authorities will not accept that leisure can be defined as light industrial for this reason, even though leisure developments often generate many jobs.
The Bill also proposes replacing the current County Plans with a Regional Spatial Strategy to be drawn up by the Regional Development Agencies.
Plans in the original Green Paper, to remove the outline planning application process have been scrapped after concerns among developers that this would make it difficult to raise funds for schemes.
The Bill also reduces the amount of time developers would have to appeal against a planning decision, from six months after the decision to three, and will force local authorities to give their reasons for approving schemes as well as for refusing them.
Controversial plans to change the system relating to Section 106 agreements, where local authorities grant planning permission on the condition that the developer provides something in return, usually other facilities or infrastructure investment, were not included in the Bill.
The Bill also proposes streamlining Planning Policy Guidance notes. Business in Sport and Leisure plans to lobby the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to produce a best practice guide for local authorities to encourage them to consider tourism-related projects positively.
The Bill is designed to speed up the planning process and remove some of the hurdles that the current system places in front of new development. It also aims to better engage the community in the planning process.
It proposes the introduction of Local Development Frameworks to replace the current system of Unitary Development Plans. Many local authorities have failed to produce plans and many are out of date.
Brigid Simmonds, the chief executive of Business in Sport and Leisure, welcomed the move. Simmonds said: "At the moment, if something is not in the plan, you are not allowed to develop it and too few sites are designated for leisure use."
Simminds said that under the UDPs, sites were often zoned for light industrial development, which is often defined as a scheme which offers employment use. However, many local authorities will not accept that leisure can be defined as light industrial for this reason, even though leisure developments often generate many jobs.
The Bill also proposes replacing the current County Plans with a Regional Spatial Strategy to be drawn up by the Regional Development Agencies.
Plans in the original Green Paper, to remove the outline planning application process have been scrapped after concerns among developers that this would make it difficult to raise funds for schemes.
The Bill also reduces the amount of time developers would have to appeal against a planning decision, from six months after the decision to three, and will force local authorities to give their reasons for approving schemes as well as for refusing them.
Controversial plans to change the system relating to Section 106 agreements, where local authorities grant planning permission on the condition that the developer provides something in return, usually other facilities or infrastructure investment, were not included in the Bill.
The Bill also proposes streamlining Planning Policy Guidance notes. Business in Sport and Leisure plans to lobby the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to produce a best practice guide for local authorities to encourage them to consider tourism-related projects positively.
