People
A high performing planning authority needs to have the right number of people to do the work expected of it with the right skill set.
It also needs to have a strategy to ensure that it retains and recruits the right staff in the future.
It supports staff to upskill and to be prepared for changes in policy, legislation and new circumstances.
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Culture
A high performing planning authority has a positive culture through ensuring it has sound governance, effective leadership and commitment to continuous improvement.
The authority has an identified chief planner, who is supported by a strong leadership group to advise on decision-making, policy and operational management.
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Tools
A high performing authority needs to have an effective local development plan and other strategies in place to provide a vision for the future of the area.
It needs to be able to set and deliver on policy ambitions and priorities by clearly informing decision-making and providing certainty and predictability of communities, developers and investment.
The authority's development management systems need to be effective in making the right decisions about development and be efficient as possible in doing this.
The planning authority makes best use of digital technology and how it manages the uses of data.
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Engage
A high performing planning authority should ensure a wide range of people are involved in shaping their future places.
Engagement should be:
- fair and inclusive
- early
- collaborative
- meaningful and proportionate, and
- should include difficult to reach groups
The authority should engage with a wide range of partners at a national, regional and local level to ensure a joined-up approach and that links are made across policies and programmes.
The planning authority should demonstrate good customer care, transparency and effective communication.
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Place
A high performing planning authority should demonstrate place leadership by taking a collaborative place-based approach in line with the Place Principle.
It should use the Place and Wellbeing Outcomes in decision-making processes, to achieve the three spatial principles outlined in National Planning Framework 4:
- sustainable places, where we reduce emissions, restore and better connect biodiversity
- liveable places, where we can all live better, healthier lives
- productive places, where we can have a greener, fairer and more inclusive wellbeing economy
The planning authority should seek to ensure that there are no impediments to delivering agreed development.
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Case studies
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