the government's Planning for the Communities of the Future, has
'Planning for Sustainable Development: Towards Better Practice.'
within existing urban areas, on increasing housing densities whilst
enhancing quality, and on increasing the amount of development on
previously used land. It proposes development of urban villages and
other types of mixed use development
Planning minister Richard Caborn said:
'This guidance will help local planners and others to plan new
housing and other essential new development in a way which better
meets the government's objectives for sustainable development.
Planners must work with local people and other stakeholders to
develop clear ideas of what kind of towns, cities and countryside we
want to hand on to future generations. Through the planning process
our communities need to create a vision for change which is both
beneficial and sustainable, and then draw up development plans to
manage that change effectively. This guide provides advice on how
this can be achieved.'
The Guide recognises that locating all new development in existing
towns and cities is not a practical solution. It therefore sets out
an approach to assessing other options such as urban extensions and
It also provides advice to planners on how they can help to realise
some of the aims of July's White Paper on the future of transport. It
suggests that authorities should focus development within transport
corridors, and ensure that it is accessible by sustainable forms of
travel. The Guide puts forward ideas for reducing car dependence, for
example through the design and location of new development, green
transport plans and parking strategies.
The Guide provides advice on planning for sustainable rural areas,
emphasising the importance of reviving rural settlements, protecting
landscape character and local distinctiveness; and providing for
recreation and leisure. It also identifies some sustainable
development issues which are common to all areas, with a chapter on
how issues such as ecology and energy can be integrated into plans.
It draws upon examples of good practice from local authorities and
further afield, and suggests how these might be applied more widely.
It also offers a methodology to ensure that sustainable development
principles are integrated from the outset of the plan-making process.
The guide points out that local authority planners have responded
imaginatively to the increasing emphasis upon having need,
articulated in national guidance and elsewhere, for development to be
sustainable. However, the research upon which the guidance has been
based has shown that planners would welcome further advice on how to
put this into practice.
Mr Caborn added:
'The planning system potentially has a very important part to play in
the delivery of sustainable development. The issues are complex and
challenging, and understanding is growing all the time. This Guide
represents an important step along the way. I commend it to all local
authorities and others who have a role in shaping the future of our
Copies of the guidance, priced at£35 are available from the
Stationery Office, ISBN No 0 11 753406 4
The Guide is based on research undertaken for the DETR by Arup
Economics and Planning.