P4.9: Role of Planning Performance Agreements

The key components of the project management structure can fit the potential Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) process and hence this can be a mechanism to give some formality to an agreement between the Local Authority and the developers/ applicant.

PPAs are a project management tool with a remit to provide greater certainty to planning application assessment and decision making process. The main focus is on achieving a collaborative, transparent planning process between partners and a product of this is to document an agreement for key elements of the project critically setting a clear project management process upfront: Project Team and communication (Decision making process), Project Vision and Objectives, Project plan (tasks and issues, which is continually updated) and a linked programme with critical review milestones.

The scope and content of any Planning Performance Agreement is likely to differ to reflect local circumstances. However, the approach establishes stronger project management, commitment of time, resources and political will from public and private sector for complex developments and gives greater certainty and confidence to the planning process, whilst improving the quality of development proposals and decisions.

Further information on how to use PPAs is included in the separate Topic Paper on this website (see link to the right or click here).