Today we sat down with Alex and Louise Jelley, who are Directors at Alpine Planning Ltd. We discussed how local authorities can properly resource planning functions to deliver on their large scale development and regeneration programs.

The key points we covered were:

• The importance of political buy-in, and how to get it
• Proactivity. Looking for solutions not problems. Problems are easy to identify. Getting over hurdles and finding answers is the tricky bit
• Dedicated resource to specific projects
• External support and funding (TCPA New Communities Group, for instance)
• Use of consultants – planning, landscape architects, transport, legal
• Planning Performance Agreements - mean the Council isn't paying over and above for consultants. It washes its own face! It can cover most of if not all of the consultant fee to work on the scheme and this means that council money can go on other things such as grow your own planners, training for newly qualified staff etc. Win – win
• Regular update meetings with applicant so they feel advised and in the know
• Available by phone or email every day
• Trust between council and consultant is key. Need to build reputation and relationships. Consultants can help improve performance and provide support
• Ability for planning officers within the Council to focus on other priorities. The council tells us what they want
• Councils get what they pay for in terms of experience and the ability to deal with majors. Major apps need specifically experienced planners. Skills are learned over years not months
• Talk about successes – make sure the wider community understands the infrastructure being delivered as a result and doesn’t just see road works and lost fields