Back to school- planning changes

The government has recently announced changes to the planning process to make it easier for free schools to set up in empty commercial properties. Free schools will be allowed to set up in properties, for a year, without having to obtain planning permission. The changes come as part of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill and is part of the government's effort to streamline the planning process. The government has set up a website, with surplus government property, to aid potential free schools with their search for a building.

What are the potential pitfalls?

• Not every commercial property will be suitable for use as a free school. For example, say a free school identifies an empty warehouse that had previously stored chemicals. If structural alterations are needed, will planning permission still be required?
• If free schools do not manage to obtain planning permission, within a year, will they be forced to look for another property? This will be inconvenient for obvious reasons (and does defeat the purpose of the proposals).
• Councils will presumably retain their article 4 powers i.e. they can still override development and stop free schools setting up in certain properties?
• Will listed building and conservation area consents still be applicable?
• Councils already have to give priority to new school developments as part of the planning process. Do the above proposals really add anything?

The government's attempt to simplify our byzantine planning process is laudable. We shall have to wait and see whether or not the government deserves a gold star or whether it should go back to the drawing board.