New guide explains benefits of planning performance agreements (PPAs)

The British Property Federation has launched a guide, backed by the Government, for the property industry to explain the benefits of planning performance agreements (PPAs), with the key message that PPAs have the potential to give developers greater certainty and confidence in the planning process.

The guide, A guide to planning performance agreements, written by law firm Denton Wilde Sapte, highlights some of the background to PPAs, the key points to consider when using a PPA, and some practical tips for developing one.

PPAs are a project management tool that the Government has developed to help local authorities and developers deliver decisions on planning applications for major developments. A PPA is simply an agreement between a developer and a local authority (and potentially other key players, such as statutory consultees like the Environment Agency or English Heritage) setting out who will do what and when.

PPAs are designed to address some common problems encountered by local authorities and applicants, such as timescales, resources, and the quality of applications and decisions, by providing a framework and management approach for delivering good quality outcomes.

The guide highlights some key advantages of using a PPA:

• establishing a better understanding of a project's needs, including management and resources, and the scope for collaborative working
• setting a realistic timetable relevant for the size and complexity of the application and defining key milestones
• minimising the risks and costs of appeal
• enabling identification of problems and a method for reviewing these
• providing a formal mechanism for parties, including key stakeholders, to collaborate

The uptake of PPAs by local planning authorities and developers has been slow and the guide is designed to help encourage more planning applications to use the PPA process. In 2008 the Killian Pretty Review – a Government backed review of the planning application process from start to finish – recommended greater use of PPAs.

Liz Peace, chief executive of the BPF, commented: 'We have always thought that better use can be made of PPAs. They are a really useful tool, which used in the right circumstances, can deliver significant benefits for developers, local authorities and communities. We hope this guide encourages a greater take up of PPAs.'