David Bainbridge, director of planning in the Savills’ south central team, discusses the recent expression of interest by local council leaders to create a mayoral strategic authority within the Thames Valley.
With scarce resources, comes competition.
This is true for those seeking the time and attention of decision-makers and investors in the field of infrastructure provision and planning for development.
The wisdom is that attention and investment will follow those who speak with the loudest voice.
The Government’s plans for devolution are set to reduce the number of voices in local governance through the creation of new combined strategic authorities, while current local authorities are reduced in number in favour of unitary authorities. With these changes will come cost-savings through economies of scale.
On top of this pending reorganisation of local government, is a national consultation on changes to national planning policy – the first fundamental restructure since 2012.
This places emphasis on more streamlined plan-making and in particular the preparation of spatial development strategies. Government wants a new system led by these strategies, and prepared by new strategic authorities, such as new combined mayoral authorities.
Leaders of local authorities in the Thames Valley have recently submitted an expression of interest in being part of a future devolution programme through the establishment of a Thames Valley Mayoral Strategic Authority. This move has major implications in relation to the planning for strategic development and infrastructure provision across the Thames Valley area.
This could see a re-ordering of the priority of infrastructure schemes across the Thames Valley and a different approach to leveraging in funding for infrastructure. The hope is that it should reduce competition for such funding across the area, but time will tell as to whether the amount of funding can be improved upon.
New shadow authorities might be established next year, with elections to the new strategic authority in 2028. This would be in time for planning for infrastructure to 2050.
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