Planning Permission – Good or Bad?
by A brief essay to discuss the role of planning permission within the UK and it’s strengths and weaknesses.
“Outline the advantages and disadvantages of attaining outline planning permission and full planning permission for the construction of a large supermarket.”
The 1947 Town and Country Planning Act was passed as the government identified that control should be established over construction. This required all new buildings to be subject to planning permission (Cullingworth & Nadin, 1964, p.21). Further Acts have also been passed to extend the control (as identified in Chudley & Greeno 2008 p.41).
Land is usually bought with outline planning permission attached to it which gives a minimal description of the type of building work that can occur. Outline planning permission is there to give advice as to types of construction that can take place. However, full planning permission required before building. Full planning permission gives full details on the project, and is submitted with full plans showing existing builds, trees etc. The authorities can then accept or refuse the application.
Advantages to planning permission for building a supermarket as an example are: that it gives government control over construction and this in turn allows enforcement of competition laws. It allows protection of the environment and greenfield sites (Dr Simon Thurley); it allows present and future management of local resources; it gives a structure and order to regeneration; allows neighbours to give views; it allows for a record of what is proposed to remove changes without consultation. Other advantages are: it allows for exercise of public safety initiatives and also provides time and resource management for construction companies. This reduces the threats of unfinished builds due to poor planning.
There are disadvantages however: it takes control away from land owners and detracts from ownership laws and the idea of capitalism; it can curb businesses in that they are restricted from developing further; it slows down construction and adds a time consuming step; and it may also restrict innovation as businesses may not want to identify secrets or advantages they may have identified.
Planning permission in the UK has the overall aim of protection so that resources can be managed in the future.
Bibliography
Town & Country Planning in the UK (13th edition) – Barry Cullingworth & Vincent Nadin, 1964
Building Construction Handbook – Roy Chudley & Roger Greeno, 2008
References
Town & Country Planning in the UK (13th edition) – Barry Cullingworth & Vincent Nadin, 1964 p.21
Building Construction Handbook – Roy Chudley & Roger Greeno, 2008 p.41
Dr Simon Thurley – http://www.direct.giv.uk/en/NI1/Newsroom/D_G178834 accessed on 22/10/2009
Author Unknown – http://www.howtobooks.co.uk/property/self-build/planning-permission.asp accessed 22/10/2009
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