The Pursuit of Planning

Ian Runeckles, Regional Planning Lead, Department for Education

This presentation aims to set out the critical role that planning plays in the delivery of new, rebuilt and refurbished schools/colleges in the state-funded sector from the Department for Education’s perspective.  Ian will set out the risks and challenges that the DfE encounters with the planning system, how they respond to them and explain how they seek to influence planning reforms to help secure the relevant planning approvals in a timely manner.  This will lead into a more detailed and practical insight that will come from their external delivery partners – DHA.

Matthew Blythin, Director & Paul Lulham, Director (Transport), DHA Planning

The presentation will identify some of the key challenges education projects face in striving to secure planning permission, in the context of a planning system which increasingly frustrates rather than facilitates. The presentation is intended to provide a practical look at the planning system from an education setting perspective. Key challenges that will be addressed include effective feasibility, consultation and engagement, planning and project programme, highways and travel; alongside thoughts on how the planning system and process could change to work more effectively and efficiently to assist in the delivery of vital new education development.