The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act: faster, fairer, simpler? If you listen to legal and planning professionals, the answer appears to be a resounding “no”. In this year’s survey of the planning law marketplace, published in the 27 May issue of Planning magazine, the disquiet is clear, for example:
“Within 10 years this system will create a huge amount of frustration and will disappear under the weight of its own bureaucracy,” said Mills and Reeve’s David Brock. “The reforms are creating confusion rather than achieving benefits. I do not see them meeting the objectives of speeding and simplifying the process,” suggested Brian Greenwood of Norton Rose. Michael Gallimore at Lovells said: “…the system is in danger of grinding to a halt”, while DLA Piper’s Kate Hall explained: “The public did not understand the last system and it does not under-stand this one. The expectation is that there will be real community involvement and that the public will have some say. They will be disappointed.”
