How innovative planning can address social challenges in the UK
Social challenges in the UK and beyond are well-documented and have been exacerbated by the housing crisis, economic factors and climate change. In a bid to resolve the UK’s housing crisis the Labour government has plans to build 1.5 million new homes before the end of the current parliament. It’s an ambitious target, fraught with problems, although the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill will assist housebuilders in bringing forward development more quickly and in July the New Towns Taskforce is set to announce locations for the creation of new towns. There is also enormous pressure on urban planners to create spaces that actively promote the inclusivity, equality and sustainability needed to address social challenges.
Social challenges in the UK and beyond are well-documented and have been exacerbated by the housing crisis, economic factors and climate change. In a bid to resolve the UK’s housing crisis the Labour government has plans to build 1.5 million new homes before the end of the current parliament. It’s an ambitious target, fraught with problems, although the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill will assist housebuilders in bringing forward development more quickly and in July the New Towns Taskforce is set to announce locations for the creation of new towns. There is also enormous pressure on urban planners to create spaces that actively promote the inclusivity, equality and sustainability needed to address social challenges.
Social challenges include issues the UK’s ageing population. According to the ONS, in 2022 there were around 12.7 million people aged 65 or over in the UK, making up 19% of the population. The ONS predicts that by 2072 this figure will rise to 22.1 million people, or 27% of the population. This highlights the urgent need to provide significantly improved, age-appropriate and innovative housing solutions. Incentives are needed to help persuade older people to downsize, freeing up large family homes and combat the negative impact of social isolation plus reduced access to health care. The growing number of empty shops on Britain’s High Streets is changing the landscape of our town and city centres but could also provide an opportunity for more accessible health care facilities.
The need for accessible health care is growing ever more urgent. According to government data, the proportion of overweight adults in England has increased by 11% since 1993. Innovative planning has the potential to help improve physical activity, reduce the prevalence of fast-food outlets and encourage healthier behaviours. As an example, in my home town of Chepstow, communal orchards were planted so that people could pick their own fruit, and the High Street is lined with planters where crops like strawberries and fresh vegetables are grown for people to eat. As well as providing health benefits, planning initiatives such as these help to engender a feeling of community spirit, and possibly encourage more people to grow fresh fruit and vegetables at home.
To help reduce obesity the government aims to cut the number of fast-food outlets within walking distance of schools. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that local planning authorities should refuse applications for hot food takeaways and fast-food outlets within walking distance of schools and places that young people congregate, unless the location is within a designated town centre or in locations showing evidence that a concentration of such uses has an adverse impact on local health, pollution or anti-social behaviour. Interestingly, a recent report in the British Medical Journal states that since 2020, McDonald’s has lodged 14 appeals with the planning inspectorate against councils’ decisions, and to date has won 11, losing only one, with two ongoing. Arguments such as the sale of salads, sponsorship of local children’s football teams, and the provision of a climbing frame to encourage physical activity have proved successful!
Earlier this month the government and Active Travel England (ATE) announced a funding package of almost £300 million enabling millions of people to benefit from 300 miles of new walkways and cycle lanes. The new infrastructure will add £9 million to the economy each year by supporting local businesses, incentivising employees to walk and cycle to work, as the government continues to deliver its Plan for Change.
Unfortunately, the planning industry is currently chronically under-resourced and struggling to keep up with the ever-changing built environment. A survey of 235 of 322 local planning authorities in England revealed that only 59% had in-house urban design expertise with less than a quarter of LPAs using the design review process. The credit crunch of 2007-2009 and the pandemic in 2020 has clearly affected the profession. Senior planners that would now be coming through the system are simply not there. The shortage of planners is something that Boyer is working to address by attending schools and university career fairs to encourage more young people to consider planning as a career.
Personally, I am optimistic about the future. There is a lot to do, but with a collaborative working approach at every level I believe we can make a difference. Importantly, to enable change, deliver sustainable development and deliver the housing numbers our country and communities need, everyone needs to play an active part in the planning process.
For planning to positively impact social challenges, early engagement is necessary at every level, including the local community. The Labour government has stated an intention to encourage public consultation, but people are often quick to object against a proposal. Only a minority are open minded enough to listen or actively feed into the planning process within their community. To make a real difference we must encourage communities to participate and feel they are part of the change that is taking place around them.