A specialism of Addison’s is the provision of support to local authorities to promote improvements in planning processes and outcomes. We continually seek best practice and share that intelligence more widely so building our own capacity and that of the wider planning community.
We undertake these activities through:
• direct support to authorities in full or part review of the service area
• supporting teams in problem solving and the identification of service improvements
• the production and dissemination of good practice guidance
• designing and running workshops and other support packages independently and for the Planning Advisory Service and other agencies
• developing and supporting policy production and implementation, and the identification of actions for improvement
• advice to government departments and other agencies.
• advice to government departments and other agencies.
Recent projects:
SDC – Consultancy support on the implications of the Planning Act 2008, 2010
We were commissioned to provide consultancy support to the Sustainable Development Commission on the implications of the Planning Act 2008. This work covered four distinct areas of support;
• draft responses to two National Planning Statements, Ports and Energy, with a possible third on National Networks;
• a protocol for engagement with the IPC;
• production of guidance for developers and the IPC on the application of sustainable development principles to planning proposals and decision-making
• preparation of a capability building support programme to the IPC on the guidance
The work undertaken included expert knowledge in key areas including technical planning expertise and experience of strategic planning issues through the development process and the planning policy frameworks.
Planning Advisory Services – Annual Monitoring Review Guidance– Developing a better advertisement for planning
The project involved an evaluation of the output and lessons learned from phase I of the project which sought to identify improvements to the AMR of five local authorities. Together with good practice elsewhere the guidance was written based on these experiences and aimed to provide recommendations on the content and production of an effective AMR in the changing context of reduced statutory reporting and the emerging localism agenda. June 2010
London Borough of Islington
Addison & Associates have been requested to carry out a package of Consultancy Services. These include: Business Process Analysis and options evaluation, Costs Benchmarking, Procurement Process Support and Project Management (general). January 2010
Royal Borough of Kingston, Planning Performance Agreement
Addison & Associates were selected to provide project management support for the development and delivery of a planning performance agreement for the redevelopment of the Surbiton Hospital site. This included facilitating two workshops to develop the vision and objectives and agree the project plan.
The use of a PPA as a project management tool provides greater certainty and transparency to planning application assessment and decision making. The consultancy has experience of the use of PPA’s having been appointed by ATLAS to provide the inception day service for local authorities. January 2010
Other relevant projects:
Analysis of arrangements for policy production and implementation, and the identification of actions for improvement – Metropolitan Unitary Authority.
Production of a diagnostic analysis templates for development management performance, development control and the local development framework performance - Planning Advisory Service (PAS) Development of ‘Development Management Guidance’ – PAS. To view please use link on Publications page
Preparing guidance on ‘Devising an effective local development scheme’ – PAS. To view please use link on Publications page
Preparation of framework of Councillor Competencies for planning - PAS. To view please use link on Publications page
Evaluation and reporting of the reasons for levels of performance and the underlying processes on those planning authorities identified as being "at risk" of not meeting national planning targets - DCLG. To view please use link on Publications page
Advice to a local authority on how to improve its section 106 processes - Birmingham
Advice to local authorities on suitable improvements to the development control service - Selby, Southwark, Haringey, East Hertfordshire.
Formulation of a benchmark for an "ideal" spatial planning service (and its predecessors) - PASIDeA. To view please use link on Publications page
Developing Good Practice Guidance on handling major applications - PAS.
Inputting to the establishment of e-planning standards - PARSOL
Providing training to a number of local authorities on a wide range of subjects including:
• securing travel plans through planning - Dorset and Somerset
• probity for councillors and officers
• local development frameworks including members role.