The Autumn Budget is due to be presented on 26 November, and although the Royal Town Planning Institute has already submitted a written representation, they are re-highlighting their key points
The RTPI has identified three key points that, if addressed, would provide great support for UK planners.
Particular focus has been placed on reforms to the planning system, with the points looking to capitalise and expand on this.
The three key points RTPI have reiterated are below
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- Support strategic authorities with the estimated £62.7m to £147.2m cost of preparing Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs), as outlined in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill Impact Assessment: There have been efforts by Government to address capacity concerns within the planning sector, with a commitment to recruitment of an additional 300 planning officers by the end of 2026. However, our research shows 84.6% of Local Planning Authority respondents report their teams having vacancies, with nearly 17% identifying six or more vacancies within their team.
- Reinstate local authority planning policy funding to 2010 levels with an additional £136.7m funding into “other planning policy”, to speed up local plan preparation and thereby increase local plan coverage: The State of the Profession 2025 identifies that the planning system in England has experienced a 16.6% real terms disinvestment since 2010, with planning policy as a function being disproportionately affected by these cuts, experiencing a 28.8% real term reduction in expenditure. If the Government wants to set us on the course to achieving universal local plan coverage and provide the certainty and confidence for the sector to bring forward the growth agenda across the country, planning policy investment needs to be brought in line with 2010 levels of funding, at a minimum.
- Mitigate the anticipated reduction in planning capacity due to Level 7 apprenticeship funding changes through an alternative funding provision of £27,983,600 to fully fund part-time master’s bursaries with funded work placements for 400 planners, over the remainder of this Parliament: In England, over 20% of respondents to the RTPI’s State of the Profession 2025 survey stated that they intend to leave the profession in the next three years, either to retire or to move into a different career. We have also been repeatedly raising our concerns around the impact of changes in funding for Level 7 apprenticeships in England which could lead to a net loss of approximately 200 new planners a year, 70% of which typically work and train in local government. Nearly three quarters of Local Planning Authority respondents to the State of the Profession 2025 said they expect changes to Level 7 apprenticeships to have an impact on their services, with 61.6% anticipating a major or moderate impact.
To mitigate the anticipated reduction in planning capacity due to Level 7 apprenticeship funding changes, we have proposed to HM Treasury an alternative provision to support 400 new planners into the system over the remainder of this Parliament through fully funded part-time master’s bursaries with funded work placements.
Other industry leaders have made their recommendations
Earlier this month, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) published their own recommendations for supporting strength and growth in the Autumn Budget.
This includes:
- Reducing the overall burden of business rates, shortening valuation gaps, and simplifying the system.
- Modernising administration through improved government digital services and efficient data collection.
- Strengthening the Valuation Office Agency’s resourcing and promoting professionalism in the business rates sector by addressing ‘rogue agents’ and encouraging engagement with regulated professionals.
- Introducing targeted incentives within the business rates framework to encourage sustainable investment and support the transition to net zero.
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