Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill

Our response to the Government’s recent Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill consultation for the English planning system focused on reforms to National Planning Policy.

This is in relation to a proposal for a set of national development management policies (NDMPs) on particular topics which guide decision-making for planning applications. Currently policies are set by individual local authorities.

The consultation paper cited examples of topics which could form NPMPs, including heritage, flood risk and green belt development. We advocated culture being one of the strategic topic areas for inclusion to help more effectively and consistently support and protect England’s cultural infrastructure and venues whether small or large. We also recommended that the ‘Agent of Change’ principle was included, either as a stand-alone policy or as part of a cultural policy.

Part of our rationale for including culture as a NDMP is because of the tremendous contribution the sector makes to the economy and the vitality of town centres, the jobs it provides and the role it plays in the well-being and development of communities. We noted there are currently gaps and inconsistencies in cultural policy with the plans of local authorities and that venues and important cultural buildings continue to come under threat from loss and change of use. 

Additionally, the consultation sought views on increasing development of brownfield land within town and city centres. Whilst supportive of the principle of making optimum use of land we made clear that development must protect the activities and operations of cultural and night-time economy uses.

It is anticipated there will be further consultation in 2023 on how NPMPs would be implemented, and there is also a commitment to consulting prior to NDMPs being designated. Theatres Trust will continue to participate to ensure the interests of theatres and the wider cultural sector are being considered.