T3: Using Planning Performance Agreements

Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) were formally introduced into the planning system on 6 April 2008. They can be used for any ‘major’ planning proposal, but are primarily aimed at complex development proposals.

PPAs are about improving the quality of planning applications and the decision making process through collaboration. They bring together the Local Planning Authority (LPA), developer and key stakeholders from an early stage to work together in partnership throughout all stages of the planning process. They are essentially a collaborative project management process and tool that provide greater certainty and transparency to planning application assessment and decision making.

The concept has evolved from an initial idea put forward in the 2001 Planning Green Paper, through to a pilot project in 2006 (on the use of ‘planning delivery agreements’) which was run by the Planning Advisory Service with ATLAS support.  The pilot involved 23 schemes and the vast majority of participants across both the public and private sectors recognised the value that some form of agreement could add in terms of improving the quality of process and outcome, and giving greater robustness to decision making. The response of Communities and Local Government is encapsulated in their consultation document and was announced in the Planning White Paper 2007 (see link below and T2.1).

This topic paper focuses on the application of the concept and extracts key advice in terms of:

• Where PPAs now sit in the formal planning process;
• The role of PPA Charters or Protocols;
• What information should be captured in an individual site specific PPA;
• The process to evolve a PPA; and
• How independent facilitation can assist in this process.

More detailed advice is contained in the published Guidance Note produced by ATLAS in conjunction with Communities and Local Government on how to implement and use PPAs in practice (available to download below).