Sir Michael Pitt, currently Chair of the Infrastructure Planning Commission will become Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate when Katrine Sporle, the Inspectorate’s Chief Executive, retires at the end of March.
The new arrangements for major infrastructure planning decisions have been announced by Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark today – described as “New seamless arrangements for major infrastructure planning (which) will ensure stability and a 21st century system”
The Government the next steps it is setting out to return democratic accountability to major infrastructure applications, while maintaining the essential expertise, stability and speed of the existing system, will ensure it is ‘business as usual’ during the transition to the new Major Infrastructure Planning Unit, which will sit within the future integrated Planning Inspectorate. Developers could "rest assured" the transfer will not delay applications.
The current team of Commissioners examining applications at the Infrastructure Planning Commission will also be retained to ensure a high quality professional system continues with no unnecessary delays in the examination of applications. This work will move to the Major Infrastructure Planning Unit once the Localism Bill receives Royal Assent.
Sir Michael will divide his time equally between both organisations and will become the full time Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate following closure of the Infrastructure Planning Commission, on a fixed term basis through to April 2014.
Mr Clark said:
“It is vital we have a planning system that is swift and efficient, and that captures the confidence of business and communities alike.
“The Major Infrastructure Planning Unit, within the Planning Inspectorate, will be at the forefront of helping deliver growth and investment in this country and key to ensuring we have an infrastructure planning system fit for the 21st century.
“The new leadership arrangements being brought in with Sir Michael Pitt at the helm and the retention of the Commissioners will ensure a smooth transition to restoring democratic accountability to major infrastructure planning decisions, while maintaining the expertise, stability and speed of the current system.
“Developers can rest assured it will be business as usual during the transition with no unnecessary delays.”
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