The Royal Town Planning Institute today urged the next government to “build on the strong foundations” of the existing planning system instead of overhauling it.

Launching the RTPI’s manifesto, policy and practice chair Martin Willey said the existing planning system was world class and it should be expanded on.

This would go against Conservative plans to introduce sweeping reforms to the planning system, such as giving local people more power and abolishing Regional Spatial Strategies and building targets.

“Our town and country planning system is respected around the world for the
way in which it has allowed our towns and cities to grow while protecting what
makes the United Kingdom special,” he said.

“The challenge for the next Government will to be to build on the strong foundations of the existing system and the skills and experience of the planning profession and the development industry, as well as to involve local people in a meaningful way to shape the right decisions for all our futures.”

The RTPI has been lobbying government to raise the profile of planners and bridge the planning skills gap that has emerged over the past decade.

“It is absolutely essential that the importance and value of planning is restated to an incoming government and that a clear view of what the profession stands for and seeks in the future is widely promoted,” Willey said.

To read the manifesto, click here: RTPI Manifesto for Planning 2010

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