About ATLAS
ATLAS was set up in 2004 as a pilot scheme by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM - now Communities & Local Government, CLG) to provide an independent advisory service to Local Authorities in London, and the wider South-East experiencing the pressures of increased development activity flowing from the Sustainable Communities Plan. ATLAS is part of the Planning Advisory Service (PAS). The team is being hosted by English Partnerships, which is in transition to become the new Homes & Communities Agency.
As a result of the success of the pilot scheme, ATLAS has been expanded considerably during 2007, both in terms of the number of staff, its geographical area of coverage, and scope of technical expertise. The Barker Review of Land Use Planning and Planning White Paper have both promoted the expansion of the team further to assist in the delivery of housing growth across England as a whole.
Objectives
ATLAS is provided in response to one of four key objectives identified by PAS as “offering direct support to individual Local Authorities to deliver key Government objectives such as large scale housing developments or regeneration projects”.
The key overall mission statement for ATLAS is to improve the quality of process and outcome in bringing forward major planning & regeneration projects across all sectors of the planning /development community;
How does it operate?
ATLAS will engage at any stage of the development process when requested by the Local Authority. The only specific selection criteria for ATLAS involvement are that sites are generally large or of strategic importance, and there is no direct English Partnerships land or financial interest.
ATLAS currently almost 20 dedicated staff with extensive planning and development experience. The majority are qualified planners supplemented by a range of topic experts in areas such as urban design, transport planning, social infrastructure, regeneration and environmental assessment. In addition the ATLAS team is able to draw on the resources of English Partnerships National Consultancy Unit on specialist issues.
To make best and most efficient use of ATLAS staff its approach is to provide advice rather than acting as an extra staff resource. Inevitably there will be cases where it will be appropriate for focused pieces of work to be undertaken by ATLAS staff. However, in most cases the Local Authority would be expected to undertake the work supported by ATLAS guidance. This may mean ATLAS would also help Local Authorities identify and manage external consultants where work cannot be undertaken in-house.
The ATLAS offer
ATLAS can offer Local Authorities advice on a broad range of issues relating to the delivery of large housing projects and aim to provide a service which will build capacity and improve relationships. This can range from general project management advice, advice on the planning process, dealing with topics and addressing project issues.
ATLAS has had considerable success in providing independent advice and assistance on a variety of projects in the past year. Feedback from these projects suggest that the earlier ATLAS is engaged in the process the greater the impact on the outcome of the project. Local authorities also appreciate ATLAS ability to access all levels of government agencies to assist the outcome of a project.
ATLAS is able with the consent of Local Authorities to become involved with private sector Developers, this can assist the delivery process by improving communication and mutual understanding and can help to strengthen relationships.
More information relating to the scope of ATLAS work can be found in the linked pages to the right.
Join ATLAS
ATLAS is expanding both in the geographical area it covers and the range of services it can provide. Information on current vacancies can be found on our recruitment micro-site at www.atlasandncujobs.com or contact us for an informal conversation about our future growth plans.
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The 'About' zone introduces the scope and purpose of the Guide together with a set of critical success factors that ATLAS believe should underpin the progression of large scale development projects through the town planning process. It also introduces ATLAS.
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