Contrasting approaches to delivery and infrastructure planning

Overview

The development of local infrastructure and delivery plans (IDP) as part of the planning process has extended beyond that provided through developers' contributions to cover all capital investment in the locality.

In England, sound plans now need to be accompanied by an IDP which demonstrates that infrastructure programmes and cross-agency funding processes are in place through authority-wide governance mechanisms. This approach is in direct contrast to developer-based tariffs which many planners and other public sector service providers view as the only means available to provide infrastructure.

The purpose of this research is to compare and contrast the effects and implications of the two approaches to infrastructure planning and delivery through planning processes. Examples from mainstream growth areas were used, such as Ashford, as well as those undertaken through a more integrated and wider public funding approach, such as Lewisham and Derby.

People

Professor Janice Morphet

Professor Nick Gallent
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Dr Marco Bianconi
Marco is a Visiting Research Fellow and is currently working on the archiving of the papers of the late Professor Sir Colin Buchanan and the interrelationships between Local Enterprise Partnership and property. He has also worked on infrastructure delivery planning in practice.

Dr Ben Clifford
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Dr Mark Baker
Mark is a Senior Lecturer in Planning Policy and Practice at the Centre for Urban Policy Studies, Manchester University. His background is in central and local practice and his research specialisms include regional and strategic planning; central-local relations and the plan-making process; and development plan and development control procedures.

His recent research activities include work on stakeholder involvement in the regional planning guidance (RPG) process, the use of environmental and sustainability appraisal within development plans, and the future of sub-regional planning in England.

Dr Stephen Hincks
Stephen is a Lecturer in Planning at the Centre for Urban Policy Studies, Manchester University.

His research interests include the interaction of housing and labour markets and sub-regional and local levels; the definition of spatial housing markets; the analysis of housing and labour market trends and processes; commuting and migration dynamics and their relationship to policy formation; the functioning and application of spatial planning at local and regional levels; and quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis.

Vivien Hale
Vivien is a PhD student currently completing her research on the role and practice of Infrastructure Delivery Plans. 

Outputs

WORKING PAPER NO. 1, FEBRUARY 2011

The Role of Infrastructure Delivery Plans (IDPs)

Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) have a key role in setting infrastructure priorities and supporting their delivery. In starting this task, LEPs can draw upon IDPs that have been prepared by their member local authorities. This working paper investigates the extent to which LEPs currently have access to a foundation of sound local development plans and IDPs.

SEMINAR, 15 APRIL 2011

Infrastructure Planning and Delivery: Meshing the Local and Sub-Regional

As spatial planning takes a further turn towards supporting local economic areas, the puzzles about funding, governance and the potential for real devolution continue. This seminar is designed to review how this is working - or likely to work in practice - at local and sub-national levels within the new national context to remove 'bottlenecks' and replace outworn infrastructure. Will LEPs create new governance approaches that can go beyond the partnerships that have been common over the last ten years? How can LEPs work together with local authorities to obtain and pool funding for infrastructure? How will the government's interests be defined? How can spatial planning deliver this through local authority planning mechanisms? How will this all be assessed within the new territorial cohesion framework?

WORKING PAPER NO. 2, MAY 2011

The Role of Infrastructure Delivery Plans (IDPs)

This working paper is an updated and extended version of working paper no. 1 produced in February 2011 and includes information on new LEPs and a discussion on the role of the pan London LEP. This will replace the proposed working paper on the London LEP.

CONFERENCE, 13 SEPTEMBER 2012

The Long Legacy: London 2062

Throughout 2012 UCL academics and students, together with our external partners from various organisations across London, have been considering what London might be like 50 years from now. As we contemplate the repercussions of London 2012, what will London be like in 2062? This event is the public culmination of a series of workshops and symposia addressing different aspects of the future of London. The event will be chaired by David Price, UCL Vice-Provost Research, and will include three eminent speakers who have contributed to the London 2062 project: CJ Lim (UCL Bartlett School of Architecture), Janice Morphet (UCL Bartlett School of Planning) and Ben Harrison (Future of London).

Speakers:
Professor CJ Lim , UCL Bartlett School of Architecture
Dr Janice Morphet , UCL Bartlett School of Planning
Ben Harrison , Future of London

Contact: Catherine Dean
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3108 3838
Email: c.dean@ucl.ac.uk 

Impact

The impact of this research can be partly assessed by the level of interest: over 110 practitioners, academics and research students attended the seminar held in April 2011, and over 200 people have requested the two working papers published as part of the project so far. The work has also led to an invitation to facilitate a government session for LEPs, as well as ten speaking invitations to national and regional events. The work has been supported through a joint UCL/Manchester Regional Studies Association research network event.

A further international event is being planned for 2012 and has already attracted interest from all sectors at the early planning stage. The project is also linked to a range of forthcoming publications in addition to those shown above.