Wherever planners work, they will sustain high professional standards

I am looking forward to a brief holiday with Philippa in the sun...

But firstly, two meetings with top consultants and one with the chair of the IPC.
Terence O’Rourke Ltd has their HQ in Bournemouth.



Terry, recently retired, was a Hants County Council Planning Department Team Leader when I was a PPO in Test Valley and subsequently set up what is now a substantial consultancy of nearly 100 people, specialising in difficult but high quality consents mainly for the private sector. Whenever I meet separate groups of either local authority or consultant planners, they both perceive that the other group has more influence in the RTPI. Both are mistaken because all planners have equal influence!

Our discussions, led by MD Tim Hancock and Director Ann Bartaby, ranged from the energy required to complete the APC process to the scope to persuade clients to require high design standards as a route to successful and speedy application consideration. TOR has a good mix of young and experienced and like the RTPI as a whole, an increasing proportion of ladies. They have a good track record of supporting RTPI governance having supported a President, SW Regional Chair and leading YP. All in all a thoroughly professional outfit.

With Robert’s elevation to Deputy Chair, meeting the IPC chair Sir Michael (Mike) Pitt was always going to be interesting. I was joined by Sue and Jim Claydon the interim Policy Officer for Planning Aid and as with other important stakeholders we started off by describing the RTPI and what we would like to offer the IPC. The IPC starts on October 1st and will receive applications from 1st March and have already received indications that at least 55 are in the pipeline. Clearly the RTPI has the scope to inform and upskill members through Networks and we may offer some customised training through Planning Matters. However Planning Aid can offer quite specific support to the IPC in engaging hard to reach communities in the various Commission processes and we agreed to meet later in the year to agree a specific programme of action.

Finally to the London offices of Jones Lang LaSalle, at the top of a Canary Wharf office block, with amazing views up and down the Thames. Guy Bransby, Planning Director, and Jeff Field, Director of Planning, introduced me to a team, mainly from the London offices, but one from Manchester, and I did my presentation on what the RTPI stands for and what services it offers.



Unlike many of the meetings I attend, over half of those present were aware of and members of RTPI Networks, mainly YPs, but they were not aware of the website and Learning Partners, the RTPI kite marked training recognition.
Again the discussions covered the APC process and I understand that some modest changes are under consideration that are likely to address some reservations but generally we were favourably compared with other schemes such as from the RICS, which was perceived to be much easier.
JLL London deal mainly with major city commercial schemes but are moving into mixed use projects. I gained the firm impression that they work hard and competently but also enjoy themselves. Jeff also indicated that he would look at the possibility of collecting evidence of the beneficial economic impact of planning from within the firm and provide this to the RTPI, for which I am very grateful.
As I mention in my latest Planning article, any change in government may result in more outsourcing of public services so the balance of public/private members in the RTPI may change. From all of my visits I remain confident that wherever professional planners work, they will sustain high professional standards.

Have a good summer!

Martin

A towering experience...

I have a great affection for the North West Region. I’ve never lived there but two periods of my employment were based in Manchester – the Great Bridgewater Initiative and the English Cities Fund.

The former resulted in the Bridgewater Concert Hall and the latter, amongst other outcomes, a new central business district for Liverpool, next to what was Littlewood’s headquarters.
The RTPI NW Region ably chaired by - young planner again - Sarah Foster, and the highly successful administrator Beverley Watson had, unbeknown to them, also booked me into Jury's Inn, at the back of the Bridgewater Hall, where I used to stay for both jobs!
However, before my RTPI NW trip, I started with a special Executive Board to agree a speedy programme to replace Robert, and then the “annual out of London” General Assembly at Liverpool University, located there to celebrate the centenary of the first planning school in the UK, the School of Civic Design. We assembled in a beautiful chamber in the old University building and were addressed by the Head of School (and chair of CHOPS) Prof Dave Shaw, and Lever Professor Peter Batey.
Peter gave us a history of the creation of the School, which resulted from a successful libel case against the Daily Mail, in 1907, by Lord Lever (of the soap fame), who secured and invested £1million in the school! They have attracted extraordinary planning figures, such as Patrick Abercombie, and remain one of, if not the, top Planning Design courses in the world.
The General Assembly discussed housing in the recession, and received an excellent introductory presentation from Dave Curtis, Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) director, on the opportunities for planners to contribute to Sir Bob Kerslake’s “single conversation” with local authorities, regarding housing delivery. This was followed by opposing presentations by Glyn Robert’s offering a market based solution and Alan Wenban Smith’s offering a non trend based approach, both of which had run the usual gauntlet of Rynd, Richard and Planning Policy and Practice Committee.
The debate was healthy, humorous and well informed, and results will be published shortly but you can see the presentations on the RTPI website. The GA seems to have discovered a real policy purpose of late and the Executive Team members have found their contributions extremely valuable. Elections for GA and ExBo commence in the autumn, and I expect to see much more competition for places than usual.

I was then privileged to address the AESOP (Association of European Schools of Planning) Convention also celebrating the centenary and concluded their opening session with a summary of the excellent academic and research track record of the RTPI (due in no small part to Robert’s and now Sue’s considerable efforts), their use of Partnership Boards for Planning Schools and the range of careers now open to spatial planners. You can see my presentation on the website at http://www.rtpi.org.uk/download/6730/RTPI_AESOP_Liverpool.pdf




So, on to Manchester, and an early start with Sarah and Tony Whitehead,
who kindly chauffeured us for the first day.



We arrived in Blackpool, where Philly and I had taken our four children to see the lights, each year we had lived in Harrogate, in the early 1980s, but I had never visited the Tower.

It was an extraordinary and highly recommended experience, led by Tom Kellet, the Works Manager, who must have done the tour hundreds of times in his 37 years of service, but still showed huge enthusiasm for the project.



The building complex has changed hands several times since its construction in the 1800s, and the current owners, Leisure Parcs, are slowly uncovering wonderful tiled interiors and generally bringing the buildings back to their former glory.


The pictures here do not do justice to the quality of heritage, and we were also in the Ballroom when the “Mighty Wurlitzer” appeared out of the floor and onto the stage – memories of Terry Jones and Monty Python's Flying Circus were banished by the delightful ballroom dancing before us.



The views from the top allowed us to receive a helpful presentation on the work of the Urban Regeneration Company ReBlackpool, by Julie Dunn, who also guided us around the town centre. Blackpool, despite the lack of success in securing a mega casino, is clearly on the up, so visit it if you can.



Off to Lancaster and a serious discussion regarding an unusual case of developer withdrawal from a call-in Public Inquiry, into a public/private partnership scheme to extend the retail centre site - photos of which can be seen here.




Many of you will know the detail, but a positive discussion, with important contributions from Tony and Sarah, left David Hall and his enthusiastic team with some ideas to take the initiative forward, to discover a new scheme, assuming the current one is unsuccessful.

Dinner with the RTPI NW RAC and MB in a Greek restaurant, that I also used to frequent - and the huge pleasure for me, of presenting the first Today’s and Tomorrow’s Planners Awards to Richard Knight and Lindsay Whitley, respectively. John Knight, erstwhile RTPI ELL Committee Chair, was particularly proud of his son!



For the record, this year's and next year's RTPI NW Chairs are young planners - and so were both of the winners! Some of us are feeling a little old...!

The following day, with Lindsay replacing Tony, Sarah and I visited Nigel Wray’s planning team at NWRDA, who were feeling a little bruised by the latest cost-saving reorganisation, and threats from an opposition party, declaring the intent to remove regional bodies.



Our discussion centred on the rational for strategic planning, a subject that also featured in my discussions with Yorkshire and Humberside RA, and which will feature in my next Planning article. They were a cerebral and able team, and I am confident that any reshuffle will accommodate planners of this ilk.



Finally to Warrington, where we met John Groves and a highly competent and streetwise team, who showed us the transformation of the town centre. I have not visited Warrington town centre for 10 years or so, and as these photos show, the landscaping of public realm is of an extraordinary quality, vastly different from my last visit.
They have over five years' housing land supply but are clearly focused now on delivery, in partnership with the RDA and HCA.
The town compares well with my experience at Reading, where committed public servants work for many years to introduce grain and structure, to create wonderful places from a poor start. Good work John, Director Andy Farrell and team!

Sarah and Lindsay kindly dropped me off at the station, and I headed for Headingley to watch Leeds Rhinos beat Hull KR in a rugby league match with the Ramus’s, good friends and neighbours from Harrogate.
Right shaped ball but only 13 men, no line-outs or opposed scrums, but excellent athleticism.
The following morning I visited Peter and Anna Wilbraham, to find that Peter was in fine form, coping well with his treatment, and hopefully back in the RTPI Hon Sec and Solicitor saddle by early September.
May I also wish Vincent Goodstadt, Hon Treasurer, a quick return to health?
Both Honorary Officers are much missed.


A rather long train journey back to Somerset, livened up by the train arriving late into Taunton, and my having to run under the lines to catch the train to Castle Cary, where my car was parked - with a parking fine!

C’est la vie…

Martin Willey

All change at the top of the RTPI

This was an extraordinary week for the RTPI. It ended with Robert Upton’s announcement that he was leaving to become the Deputy Chairman of the Infrastructure Planning Commission. This is a huge feather in his cap and also a comment on his stewardship of the RTPI and the position it holds.


Robert, an honorary planner, has extraordinary expertise and knowledge in planning and is respected throughout the world. He has served us with great intelligence and drive for 13 years and is much loved and respected by staff and member alike. However he is an obvious candidate for a senior position in the IPC seeking to improve the efficiency of dealing with major infrastructure decisions and will bring his considerable expertise to this important work. He leaves a large gap, but filling it will I suspect generate considerable competition to reflect the reputation that Robert has created for the RTPI.
We have a great Team in place with Sara, Sue and Rynd and wonderful staff. The Board is looking forward to appointing someone who will build on the exceptional track record of an always modest Robert.
However, the week started with the RTPI Board Awayday here in Wells, Somerset, where chair Ann Skippers led the discussions about our future.
More will follow as we will be publishing a Corporate and Business Plan in the autumn that will provide a framework for our future.
It was especially nice for Philly and me to share the jewel, that is Wells Cathedral and City Centre, with the Board and Executive Team. It was also nice to see so many attending one of the wonderful Cathedral services.
The next few weeks will see considerable activity both to capture Robert’s knowledge before his departure in September and plan for his replacement.
It is an exciting time to be on the Board of the RTPI.

Martin Willey

Pride of the valleys expressed with language

I’m 25 per cent Welsh, as you know, except during the Six Nations, when I am 100 per cent English.

My second visit to Wales, nonetheless, demonstrated to me the growing differences between the two nations.
Firstly, the use of the Welsh language is growing exponentially.
In Australia, I was pleasantly surprised by the respect and reverence shown to aboriginal people, emphatically part of that Country’s heritage.
In Wales - rather like French in Quebec, Canada - the Welsh language is not only widely used and expected, but demonstrates a real pride in all things Welsh. To listen to it, it is very attractive and expressive and, in some ways, to those of us who don’t speak it, somewhat exclusive - although translations were always kindly on offer. My visit was therefore definitely different to those to the English regions.
I started with dinner with the Welsh Assembly Chief Planner, Rosemary Thomas. We now have outstanding professional chief planners in Scotland, Wales and England - and Rosemary clearly valued the relationship with RTPI CYMRU, and with an exceptional and committed Minister in Jane Davidson, the planning cause is high on the Assembly agenda.



We discussed, with Dr Roisin Willmott, RTPI CYMRU director, the current use of the RTPI CYMRU Policy group for consultation on planning matters, although I was surprised to find that the Wales Spatial Strategy was managed in another department. We also talked about the scope for the RTPI to take the initiative, as well as provide a professional response. I remain very optimistic regarding the health of Welsh planning, of which more herewith.
Next morning, joined by another impressive Young Planner Chairman, James Hooker, on to Neath Port Talbot planners, lead by Geoff White, for a demonstration of one of the most innovative developments in development management I have seen.
When I was CPO in Harrogate, we introduced one of the first computerised planning application systems, by mapping out the whole process, then using IT, to improve performance and quality of service.
Tim Richards, current Harrogate CPO... do you remember 1981?
What Geoff’s team has done, contributed a further level of sophistication by establishing which processes added value and which did not. Unsurprisingly, registration featured as a problem area.
NPT’s solution is to invest much more resource into the pre-application stage – basically, they see their role as helping applicants get consent unless they are straightforward refusals.
I will not steal Geoff’s thunder, because there will shortly be an article in Planning, but by offering pre-application advice and stakeholder consultation, the improvement in applications has been staggering, also reducing the overall time for dealing with them.



Although much of my recent work has been to encourage housebuilders and associations to co-operate and engage the local community before any housing application is submitted, it has never occurred to me that planning authorities might change their service in the same way.
Well done, Geoff and team!

I last visited Swansea some five years ago, chairing a Regeneration Network event. It has moved on significantly and their cohesive and high design quality approach has resulted in the transformation of the City Centre, especially the waterside “SA1” area.



Bryan Graham, Head of Planning, and the two Daves took us round – of course it rained. But I felt, and the local newspaper headline reflected my view - “City’s 10 year transformation” - that Swansea is up there with the best.
I also had a discussion with his staff, who apparently endorsed the “straightforward, down to earth” approach, that the RTPI is offering with member services, such as Networks, PIWP, Learning Partners and, of course, RTPI CYMRU.
Llandeilo and our guide, the lively Eifion Bowen, Head of Planning at Carmarthenshire, introduced us to members of the CYMRU executive, mainly in a local pub.
Philly and I could not stand the pace - and they apparently finished at 1am the following morning and were great company. We started the day with a walk around a National Trust property and estate, Newton House, where close co-operation between council and Trust had resulted in exceptional landscaping, conservation and tourist facilities. It was lovely just to have a walk in the Welsh countryside.
The CYMRU POS had invited us to their regular meeting, held at Ffos Las - “the largest hole in Europe” - an amazing transformation of a huge open cast mine into the first new racecourse in a hundred years. Very impressive!



The POS was in good heart and shared experiences, some good, some not so good, in particular, the pressure of reduced planning application fees. But there was a sense of shared purpose – once again the “Welshness” of the meeting showed a collegiate approach and it was clear that all arms of the profession in Wales network work together for the common cause of good planning.
Finally, down home to the SWRTPI annual dinner in Exeter, organised by another RTPI loyal servant, Helen Clarke. It was very well attended and great fun, addressed by Andy England - almost a YP - and Wayne Hemmingway, who I have now heard on four occasions. His message is always a good one – keep up standards if you want to create great places.
Those attending also showed huge generosity in raising £630 for my charity, LINK Community Development, for which, thank you! We have almost raised the first £1,900 necessary to send a Young Planner over to Africa, including a very generous personal trust donation from a well known Lord!

A great week!

Martin Willey