Dr. Conor Norton:

As I have mentioned before, the balance in the planning system is a fairly delicate one. We see it swinging a bit like a pendulum. The change to the provisions in planning guidelines has swung the pendulum towards the centre. We have been very keen to make sure that a rebalance between the local, the regional and the national is in play. Certainly, there is scope to look at the provisions in section 28. There is a need to review the provisions, particularly around specific planning policy requirements, SPPRs; the uses of those going forward; and, whether they are necessary in the context of planning guidelines in section 28.