What are Planning Performance Agreements, who should use them and why?

 

Simon Leask, head of the Advisory Team for Large Applications (ATLAS), part of the Homes and Communities Agency, responds:

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Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) were formally introduced into the planning system in April 2008. Since becoming available, they have been strongly encouraged by a range of stakeholders including the British Property Federation. Last month the All Party Urban Development Group recommended they be made more widely available and mandatory for schemes of a certain size. Simon Leask, Head of the Advisory Team for Large Applications (ATLAS), demystifies the purpose and use of the Agreements.

What are they?

In essence PPAs are a development management approach to bringing complex proposals through the planning process encapsulated in an agreed document. Typically, they would include: agreed project vision, key issues and tasks, project team and programme (what you are trying to achieve, how you are going to do it, who is responsible and when will it happen). They are agreements between the parties so cannot be imposed unilaterally. They can be used for any part of the planning process but only affect determination timescale targets if they are in place before an application has been submitted.

Who should use them and why?

All local authorities and developers involved in complex development projects can use a PPA. They can be used for all types of development proposals but they are more beneficial with the largest and more complex schemes such as large housing schemes or mixed use regeneration proposals.

The real benefit of PPAs is in moving away from local authorities and developers working separately and then clashing further along the planning process. PPAs offer a collaborative approach to agreeing shared outcomes, addressing key issues early on in the process and helping to reduce conflicts. The idea is that you can achieve a better scheme in a better way and also ensure proper involvement of key stakeholders.

Do they not just add to the costs of an already expensive planning application process?

If used too late in the process or in the wrong way this could be true but if brought in at an early stage a PPA should help bring about front loading of work and save money in the longer run. They also create more certainty and reduce risk, which for the developer is an important part of the equation.

What is ATLAS and why are you involved in PPAs?

ATLAS provides a free, independent advisory service to help secure the timely delivery of high-quality sustainable development. The team works with local authorities, the private sector and key agencies to assist them in the delivery of large scale projects across all regions of England. ATLAS is part of the Homes and Communities Agency and is sponsored by Communities and Local Government.

ATLAS seeks to assist others to implement effective planning processes and secure collaborative working. We have helped evolve the PPA concept and produce guidance on how they can be used. ATLAS also provides a free PPA inception day service, to set the ball rolling in large and complex projects. We are currently undertaking a national evaluation of the use of PPAs so far, and running a pilot programme that uses them for low carbon and renewable energy schemes.

What next?

PPAs sit closely with the introduction of development management into the planning system. They are encouraged by both the public and private sectors.  The evaluation and pilot programmes that ATLAS is managing will deliver some key lessons from early experiences of using PPAs and how they could be improved and used to a greater extent in the future.

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