Chris Hayward, policy chairman for the City of London Corporation, has said that successful planning systems are not those that always say yes, but systems that project authority and confidence. He made the comments ahead of the publication of the City Plan 2040.
Hayward said the Planning Inspectorate is about to publish its final report and sign off on the local development plan, bringing one of the most closely watched planning processes in the country towards its conclusion. He said the plan will provide the framework that guides development in the Square Mile for years to come.
He argued that Britain cannot increase productivity, attract investment or remain internationally competitive if major development is routinely held in limbo. Businesses making long-term decisions need certainty and investors committing billions of pounds need confidence, he said, adding that the planning system has a vital role in delivering both.
Hayward said the City's plan has been many years in the making, undergoing multiple rounds of consultation, extensive scrutiny and public examination. He said that during that period, developers, investors and occupiers were left waiting for clarity.
On heritage, Hayward said the balance around the Tower of London has been examined in exceptional detail and the independent Planning Inspectorate has found that the City gets that balance right. He said protecting heritage does not mean preventing change, and that the City Plan supports new commercial space while maintaining strong protections for heritage assets, strategic views and the character of the capital.
Hayward said that in the Square Mile, the City cannot grow outwards, so it has to grow intelligently, concentrating development where it is most appropriate and retrofitting. He said the publication of the Planning Inspectorate's report will give the City one of the most powerful tools it has to support economic growth, strengthen confidence and shape the future success of cities.