Wakefield

Planning Advisor

The Wakefield Society of Planning Agents (WSPA) was founded to help guide local communities, developers and individuals through the planning system in Wakefield.
This website has been designed as a tool and information resource to make the process of gaining planning approval, in Wakefield, more efficient and straight forward.

The proposed new localism bill seeks to reform the planning system. http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1818597.pdf
This will change the focus of new development to provide:
• new freedoms and flexibilities for local government
• new rights and powers for communities and individuals
• reform to make the planning system more democratic and more effective
• reform to ensure that decisions about housing are taken locally
Localism, if successful, will bring a huge shift in power in the planning process, taking it from central Whitehall to local public servants; and from bureaucrats to communities and individuals. The formation of the WSPA is a pre-emptive move to enable Wakefield to deliver this change.
The Society is working closely with Wakefield Metropolitan District Council (WMDC) to improve the quality of planning submissions for new development in the city. In line with this objective, this website aims to create a vehicle for key organisations and stakeholders of the Development Community in Wakefield, to debate planning and development issues.
The WSPA will also enhance the provision of the Local Authority planning service which will ensure it can meet its statutory duties of processing planning applications efficiently.
WMDC and the Society have already collaborated on the introduction of an "Accredited Householder Agents" scheme. This provides a 'fast track' approval process for planning submissions of quality. This has been achieved through improvements to the Council validation system and has resulted in a much improved service to clients.
The Societies founding members are: Neil Bowen of Neil Bowen Architects and John Orrell, Director of the DLA Design Group of Companies, working in close collaboration with: Ian Thomson, WMDC Service Director of Planning, Transportation and Highways and Judy Jones, WMDC Development Manager.
john orrell
John Orrell
DLA Design Group
neil bowen
Neil Bowen
Neil Bowen Architects

 
 
 
 
 
 

In these economically challenging times it is vital that every city maximises local development opportunities. The collaboration between the WSPA and WMDC is an on-going, pro-active forum that will ensure the Wakefield remains a great place to invest.